Head and neck melanoma

Nearly 20% of malignant melanoma in the human body occurs in the head and neck. Most studies divide the sites of origin of malignant melanoma in the head and neck into the following areas: the face, the scalp and neck, the external ear, and the eyelid or medial or lateral canthal area. Sixty-five percent of malignant melanomas occur in the facial region. Given that the face represents only 3.5% of total body surface area, the face is overrepresented when compared with other sites in the head and neck. Among the sites of origin in the head and neck, melanoma of the scalp and neck carries the highest mortality, with 10-year survival being only 60%. Melanomas of the ear, face, and eyelid have 10-year survival rates of 70%, 80%, and 90%, respectively.