Anorectal Melanoma: A Rare Cause of Rectal Bleeding and Diagnostic Dilemma a Case Report

This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of anal canal malignant melanoma, a rare and aggressive tumor often misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids. A 54-year-old female presented with an anal mass and intermittent rectal bleeding for eight months. Initial misdiagnosis delayed proper evaluation until a biopsy and PET scan suggested advanced, unresectable anorectal melanoma, later confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry (HMB-45 and Melan-A positive). A palliative colostomy was performed for symptom relief. This case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis in patients over 40 with rectal bleeding and anal masses, as timely evaluation can improve management and outcomes, and also notifies the early aggressiveness of the tumour.