Mucosal melanomas of the head and neck

Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is a rare condition. This study presents a review of 26 patients with such tumors, followed up at a minimum of 5 years. The 5-year survival rate in this group was 38%. Recurrences with a fatal outcome, however, have been encountered up to 12 years after initial diagnosis. Primary radical surgery offers the best chance for local control. Nasal-cavity lesions seem to be associated with a better prognosis than oral-cavity tumors. Analysis of pathologic features by microstage measurement showed that the majority of tumors were of considerable thickness. This factor may partially explain the poor prognosis associated with mucosal melanomas in comparison to their cutaneous counterparts. Local recurrences and distant metastases were the principal causes of treatment failure. A persistent treatment policy, however, may still substantially prolong survival in such cases. Regional lymph-node metastasis did not pose a significant problem in the management of these tumors. Recognition of the nature and significance of the appearance of oral melanosis is stressed.