Primary Gastric Mucosal Melanoma: A Rare Etiology of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Usama Abu-Heija; Mohammad Darweesh; Damir Kusmic; Mark Young

doi:10.7759/cureus.38668

Primary Gastric Mucosal Melanoma: A Rare Etiology of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Cureus. 2023 May 7;15(5):e38668. doi: 10.7759/cureus.38668. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Usama Abu-Heija^{1

2}, Mohammad Darweesh¹, Damir Kusmic³, Mark Young³

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
² Medical Education, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Ar Ramtha, JOR.
³ Gastroenterology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is a concerning finding, particularly in males and post-menopausal females, and can have numerous underlying causes. When evaluating potential sources of gastrointestinal blood loss, bidirectional endoscopy is often necessary. We report the case of an 89-year-old female with multiple comorbidities, including atrial fibrillation treated with apixaban, who presented with symptomatic iron deficiency anemia. Extensive dermatological and radiological assessments ruled out a primary source, and subsequent endoscopy identified a rare etiology: primary gastric mucosal melanoma. This case highlights the importance of thorough evaluation in identifying uncommon causes of iron deficiency anemia such as unsuspected malignancies, hereditary conditions, and different autoimmune conditions amongst other etiologies.

Keywords: iron deficiency anemia (ida); mucosal malignant melanoma; primary gastric malignant melanoma; small bowel capsule endoscopy; video capsule endoscopy (vce).

Publication types

Case Reports