Melanoma of the head and neck

Staging of cutaneous melanoma has changed in recent years with an increased emphasis upon thickness and ulceration on prognosis of early stage disease. Cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck is treated with complete surgical resection in early stage disease. Resection margins are determined by the size, depth, and presence of satellite lesions. Evaluation for regional and distant metastatic disease is necessary in all cases of advanced stage disease. Sentinel lymph node biopsy and possible parotidectomy and neck dissection should be considered in head and neck cutaneous melanomas greater than 1 mm in thickness or with ulceration. Adjuvant therapy may be indicated in advanced primary, nodal, and metastatic disease. Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck remains a difficult disease to treat, with high locoregional recurrence rates and poor prognosis despite aggressive therapy.