RARE VULVAR NEOPLASM: A CASE REPORT OF INVASIVE MALIGNANT MELANOMA

Abstract

Vulvar melanoma is a rare malignant neoplasm, accounting for approximately 7 to 10% of all malignant tumors of the vulva. It predominantly affects Caucasian women, usually postmenopausal, aged between 50 and 70 years. Its incidence is estimated at approximately 1 case per million women, with a poor prognosis and a 5-year survival rate of 5-25%. This study describes the clinical case of a 78-year-old patient who noticed, during intimate hygiene, a fixed and painless tumor in the vulvar region, with progressive growth. She underwent biopsy of a lesion on the right labia minora, whose anatomopathological examination revealed invasive malignant melanoma. This report highlights the importance of clinical attention and early diagnosis of vulvar melanoma, a rare and aggressive neoplasm. The success of the radical vulvectomy performed in this case reinforces the efficacy of surgical treatment as a fundamental strategy for local control of the disease and improvement of prognosis.