Cytologic detection of metastatic malignant melanoma in urine : A report of three cases

BACKGROUND: The presence of melanoma cells in urinary specimens is a rare event in either primary or metastatic melanoma of the genitourinary tract. CASES: Melanoma cells were observed in urinary specimens from three white males aged 50, 67 and 51 years, with a previous history of cutaneous melanoma in the first two cases; in the last one autopsy showed a primary melanoma of the gall-bladder. The first patient, treated with palliative therapy, survived 10 months, the second died a few days after the cytologic diagnosis, while the third survived 1 month. All patients had widespread metastases at the time of cytologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The presence of melanoma cells in urinary specimens may be an important marker for assessing the spread of metastatic disease. When the cytologic diagnosis is made, widespread dissemination is present, and only palliative treatment is suggested.