[The radiological diagnosis of gastro-intestinal metastases from malignant melanomas (author's transl)].

Amongst 240 patients with histologically proven metastases from malignant melanomas, there were 17 cases with gastro-intestinal involvement; of these there were seven in the small bowel, five in stomach, two with multiple deposits in stomach and small bowel and one in the colon. In four patients there were deposits in the mesentery or peritoneum. Radiologically these appeared as sharply demarkated polypoid intraluminal contrast defects with central ulceration (target lesions). In the cases with known primary tumours and multiple deposits, there were no problems regarding the differential diagnosis. Accurate radiological demonstration of metastases from malignant melanomas in the gastrointestinal tract or retroperitoneal space is of importance in order to avoid extensive surgery.