MOJ
eISSN: 2475-5494
Submit manuscript...
Mini Review Volume 2 Issue 5
Primary melanoma of the clitoris: historical case
Wilson IB Onuigbo
Verify Captcha
Regret for the inconvenience: we are taking measures to prevent fraudulent form submissions by extractors and page crawlers. Please type the correct Captcha word to see email ID.
Verify Captcha
Regret for the inconvenience: we are taking measures to prevent fraudulent form submissions by extractors and page crawlers. Please type the correct Captcha word to see email ID.
Department of Pathology, Medical Foundation and Clinic, Nigeria
Correspondence: Wilson IB Onuigbo, Department of Pathology, Medical Foundation and Clinic, 8 Nsukka Lane, Enugu 400001, Nigeria, Tel 2348037208680
Received: September 28, 2016 | Published: October 4, 2016
Citation: Onuigbo WIB. Primary melanoma of the clitoris: historical case. MOJ Womens Health. 2016;2(5):117 DOI: 10.15406/mojwh.2016.02.00044
Abstract
A recent review of malignancies of the clitoris made its appearance in the International Journal of Cancer Research from Saudi Arabia. It was concluded that this review demonstrated an “imperative need.” However, I am persuaded that one aspect is missing, namely, a historical highlight. Therefore, it is intended to provide it here.
Keywords: clitoris, review, history, case report
Introduction
The International Journal of Cancer Research carried a recent review1 on the clitoris with special reference to the “imperative need for more work related with case reports and review articles on malignances of clitoris.” Accordingly, it is appropriate to provide a case report dating to 1895, especially as its abridgement supplies a wide range of useful data. In particular, it comes from The Transactions of the Pathological Society of London which dated back to the 1846-48 period.2 Incidentally, as I pointed out elsewhere,3 its very second report contained the now relevant issue of cancer to cancer metastasis.4
Historical case report by William Henry battle
Primary melanotic sarcoma of clitoris
The specimen exhibited was removed during life from a patient aged 79. This was done on account of the offensive sloughing condition of the growth, which caused much annoyance and discomfort.4 The clitoris is much enlarged and clubbed at the extremity. The section has been carried through the centre of the organ and skin over the pubes, from before backwards. The clubbed portion is pigmented, and covers the organ like a cap; it is about a quarter of an inch in thickness, and of a brownish black appearance. The stalk of the mushroom is without pigmentation, and presents striæ, and a complete infiltration with growth of a yellowish appearance and firm consistency. In the subcutaneous tissue over the pubes the section shows a series of circular pigmented patches varying in size from a crow quill to a cedar pencil; these are the infiltrated lymphatic vessels, full of pigmented growth. As a rule the section of these is quite clearly defined, circular, and isolated; but in one or two places there is a blackish discolouration, and near the base of the clitoris on the upper aspect the pigmented growth extends between the upper part of the clitoris and the largest lymphatic. The surface of the main growth is ulcerated. The growth had been noticed in October, 1893. She came under care April 23rd, 1894, and died May 18th, eighteen days after operation.
Necropsy
Hypostatic congestion of the lungs, and cardiac failure. Secondary deposits universal–skin, lymphatics, glands, bones, heart, viscera, including ovaries. Heart: left ventricle markedly hypertrophied; aorta and cardiac valves extremely athermanous. Microscopically, an alveolar sarcoma.
Discussion
Dated May 21st, 1895, this masterpiece ranged over much data. Perhaps, I should point to its containing of the fundamental element of surgical pathology.5 Moreover, it also exhibited not only the new measurement in inches but also the old tendency, which I elaborated on elsewhere,6 of relating size to such farm-land and home-stead items as “crow quill” and “cedar-pencil”!. In conclusion, attention is drawn to the psycho-social angle of “offensive sloughing condition of the growth which caused much annoyance and discomfort.” Nowadays, as a group grasped, patients with vulvar melanoma face “false modesty and neglect, usually present with the disease at a late stage and have a poor prognosis.”
Acknowledgements
None.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflict of interest.
References
- Al-Shebaily MM, Qureshi VF. Malignancies in clitoris: A review of literature on etiology, diagnosis, pathology and treatment strategies. Int J Cancer Res. 2008;4(4):110–126.
- Battle WH. Primary melanotic sarcoma of clitoris. Trans Path Soc Lond. 1985;46:189.
- Ragnarsson-Olding BK. Primary malignant melanoma of the vulva. Acta Oncologica. 2004;43(5):421–435.
- Asuman C, Ozlem A, Burcak T, et al. An unusual location of basal cell carcinoma: The clitoris and the vulva. Indian J Dermatol. 2008;53(4):192–194.
- Heinzelmann-Schwarz VA, Nixdorf S, Valadan M, et al. A clinicopathological review of 33 patients with vulvar melanoma identifies c-KIT as a prognostic marker. Int J Mol Med. 2014;33(4):784–794.
- Ragnarsson-Olding BK, Nilsson BR, Kanter-Lewensohn LR, et al. Malignant melanoma of the vulva in a Nationanwide, 25-year study of 219 Swedish females. Cancer. 1999;86(7):1273–1284.
©2016 Onuigbo. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.