Metastatic malignant melanoma arising in a mature ovarian cystic teratoma: a case report and literature review

Primary malignant melanoma arising inform the ovary is rare, with only 30 cases described in the literature to date. The case reported here occurred in a 19-year-old woman and was rapidly progressive, resulting in death only 37 days following initial presentation. Management of this case is discussed in the context of the other reported cases. Surgery, ranging from an ovarian cystectomy to a radical debulking procedure, has been the main treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy utilized in only 4 of the previous cases. Key problems in management relate to the ability to make the diagnosis at the time of surgery and the overall poor response rates of melanoma to adjuvant chemotherapy.