Abstract
We report two cases of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus with long-term and disease-free survival following pre- and post-operative adjuvant immunochemotherapy. The case 1 involved a 36-year-old man complaining of heart burn and dysphagia. Esophagoscopy showed a gray and dark tumor, 20 mm in diameter, located in the lower thoracic esophagus. Histology of a biopsy specimen showed primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME). Pre- and post-operative DAV-Feron therapy and subtotal esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection via right thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed for PMME cStageII [cT2N0M0]. The patient has received subcutaneous injection of INF-β as maintenance therapy, and lived for 45 months without recurrence. The case 2 involved a 64-year-old male who presented with anemia. Esophagogastroscopy to detect gastrointestinal bleeding source showed a black polypoid tumor, 40 mm in diameter, located in the lower thoracic esophagus. Histology of a biopsy specimen showed PMME. The same pre- and post-operative therapy as the case 1, subtotal esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection via right thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed for PMME cStageII [cT3N0M0]. He has received the same maintenance therapy, and lived for 49 months without recurrence.
