Meta-Analysis
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Meta-Anal. May 26, 2014; 2(2): 36-41
Published online May 26, 2014. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v2.i2.36
Overview and a meta-analysis of pancreatic melanoma based on case reports
Zhan-Na Yuan, Feng-Hua Liu, Yong Tang
Zhan-Na Yuan, Yong Tang, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300202, China
Feng-Hua Liu, Department of Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300202, China
Author contributions: Yuan ZN reviewed the clinical medical records; Liu FH and Tang Y revised this work; Tang Y revised the paper, participated in the design of the study and performed the statistical analysis.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81341068
Correspondence to: Tang Yong, MD, PhD, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Hexi District, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin 300202, China. tli001@163.com
Telephone: +86-22-23540123  Fax: +86-22-23540123
Received: November 24, 2013
Revised: January 3, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: May 26, 2014
Processing time: 208 Days and 4.1 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the clinical characteristics of pancreatic malignant melanoma.

METHODS: Here we report a case of pancreatic malignant melanoma and present a meta-analysis of pancreatic melanoma based on data from well-documented case reports.

RESULTS: A 32-year-old male presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. Computed tomography showed a non-discrete mass in the head of the pancreas. A pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Histology revealed pancreatic malignant melanoma. Immunostaining showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for Melan A and S100, and that they expressed HMB-45. A review of 13 publications reporting 15 cases identified main clinical symptoms as abdominal pain (nine cases) and jaundice (three cases). Nine patients had a history of extra-abdominal malignant melanoma. The overall median survival time was 10 mo.

CONCLUSION: Pancreatic malignant melanoma is not typified by any special clinical presentation. The diagnosis depends on biopsy or specimen histology. Surgical resection remains the best treatment choice.

Keywords: Pancreatic malignant melanoma; Survival; Diagnosis; Treatment; Review

Core tip: Pancreatic malignant melanoma is rare and only few well-documented cases have been reported. Consequently only sparse information regarding its clinical features and biologic behavior is available. Here we report a case of pancreatic malignant melanoma and present a meta-analysis of pancreatic melanoma based on data from well-documented case reports.