Neurotropic melanoma of the head and neck

Neurotropic melanoma is a lesion which simulates a cutaneous fibrous tumor whose clinical course is characterized by local infiltration, multiple recurrences, and commonly by metastasis. Like adenoid-cystic tumors of the head and neck, the neurotropic melanoma has a predilection for perineural invasion and extension along peripheral nerves. Its microscopic picture is characterized by atypical "neuroma-like" patterns of Schwann cells and spindle cells, by poorly defined margins, and by neurotropism. Lentigo malignant melanoma (LMM) is a precursory lesion. The neurotropic melanoma is of particular interest to the head and neck surgeon because in the less than 50 reported cases of this rare tumor the preponderant sites were head, neck, and lip. We report two cases of neurotropic melanoma of the head and neck which demonstrate the characteristic perineural invasion of cranial nerves and extension along cranial nerves to the central nervous system. The clinical and pathologic features of the neurotropic melanoma are reviewed and the key diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in these patients are discussed.