Primary Clitoral Melanoma: Personalized Therapeutic Strategies Informed by Clinical Evidence and Systematic Review

TL;DR

This paper reviews rare clitoral melanoma cases and emphasizes the need for personalized treatment strategies due to diagnostic and staging challenges.

Contribution

The study provides a systematic review of primary clitoral melanoma cases, highlighting the lack of standardized protocols and the need for prospective research.

Findings

Primary clitoral melanoma is rare, often diagnosed at advanced stages with poor prognosis.

Most cases showed thick tumors and ulceration, with limited use of adjuvant therapies.

Recurrence occurred in nearly one-third of cases, sometimes over a decade after initial treatment.

Abstract

Introduction: Mucosal melanomas are rare, and vulvar melanoma is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. The clitoral region adds challenges due to its functional importance and lack of a dedicated staging system, requiring individualized management. This review evaluates current evidence on prognosis with emphasis on clitoral involvement and highlights diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, underscoring the need for personalized strategies and prospective multicentre studies. Materials and Methods: A systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251151187), was conducted per PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, including English-language case reports and series of primary clitoral melanoma published until August 2025, with no historical limits. Results: 15 cases from 10 studies were identified. The mean patient age was 60 years, with most tumors presenting at advanced stages (median Breslow thickness of 8 mm, frequent ulceration). Immunohistochemical markers and gene mutations are rarely investigated in reported cases. All patients underwent surgery, with variable lymph node assessment; adjuvant therapy was rarely used. Recurrence occurred in nearly one-third of cases, sometimes more than 10 years after initial treatment. Conclusions: Primary clitoral melanoma is extremely rare and often diagnosed late, underscoring the need for heightened clinical awareness. Wide local excision with organ preservation is preferred, and bilateral sentinel lymph-node biopsy can improve staging. The absence of a dedicated staging system and limited systemic evidence highlight the need for standardized protocols. Emerging molecular and immunologic approaches are promising, but prospective multicentre studies are essential to guide management.

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