Another Case of Pulmonary Edema or May Be Not: An Unusual Presentation of Metastatic Melanoma

Abstract

Melanoma is a tumor of pigment producing cells melanocytes. Malignant melanoma is associated with a high morbidity and mortality because of its widespread and rapid metastasis. Melanoma commonly metastasizes to lung and secondary metastatic pulmonary melanoma is a well known entity. Metastatic melanoma can present with varied pattern of pulmonary involvement ranging from post obstructive pneumonia to atelectasis. However, lung involvement is not known to cause hypoxic respiratory failure. Here, we describe a rare case of metastatic melanoma presenting as an acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation.




World J Oncol. 2014;5(4):183-186
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/wjon734w