Metastatic affection of small intestine as the first symptom of generalization of malignant melanoma

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is the most common tumour that metastatically spreads into the gastrointestinal tract. Metastatic process in the gastrointestinal tract is present in 60% of patients with generalised disease according to findings at sections. Metastases can appear many years after the primary tumour excision. A common symptom of the metastatic process in the gastrointestinal tract is anaemia. We present a clinical case of a 79-year-old man whose first symptoms of generalisation, four years after melanoma excision, were associated with small bowel metastatic involvement. Throughthis clinical case we want to show that in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding it is importantto consider possible metastatic bowel involvement, even many years after the primary melanoma excision.