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Primary Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma: A Narrative Review
Nikola Todorovic1,2, Petar Djurkovic1,2, Aleksandar Krstic1,2
1Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 2 Pasterova Street, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 26, 2025
Summary
Mucosal melanomas (MMs) are aggressive head and neck cancers. This review summarizes current research on MM, focusing on genetic alterations like C-KIT and multimodal treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Mucosal melanomas (MMs) are rare, aggressive tumors originating from melanocytes in mucous membranes.
- Head and neck MMs predominantly affect the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and oral cavity.
- Risk factors include family history, mucosal nevi, and exposure to carcinogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current findings on mucosal melanomas, particularly in the head and neck region.
- To highlight genetic alterations, such as C-KIT gene overexpression and mutations.
- To explore current and future multimodal treatment strategies for advanced head and neck MM.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of clinical trials, prospective observational studies, and retrospective studies.
- Analysis of data on epidemiology, risk factors, and genetic profiles of MMs.
- Evaluation of surgical and systemic therapy outcomes for head and neck MMs.
Main Results:
- C-KIT gene overexpression is present in over 80% of primary MMs, with mutations in 10-30%.
- Surgical resection requires wide margins (1.5-2 cm) and may involve partial maxillectomy.
- Limited outcome data exists for locally advanced head and neck MM, primarily from small retrospective studies.
Conclusions:
- Multimodal treatment approaches are crucial for managing head and neck MMs.
- Targeted therapies based on genetic alterations like C-KIT show promise.
- Further research, especially large-scale prospective studies, is needed to improve outcomes for this rare malignancy.
