[Malignant melanomas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses]

Mucosal melanomas of the nose and paranasal sinuses are rate tumours (2.4-4% of all malignancies in this area) with a poor prognosis. The increasing number of cutaneous melanomas during the last decades gave rise to determine the occurrence of mucosal melanomas of the nose and paranasal sinuses in our department between 1987-92. During this time, 6 patients with malignant melanoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses were seen in our department, representing 11% of all patients (55) with malignant tumours in this region. In five cases surgery was performed (with two patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy); one patient was treated primarily with irradiation. The mean survival time was only 19 months, which--from the authors' point of view--was mainly due to the extension of the tumours. The findings of this study might indicate an increase of malignant melanomas of the nose and paranasal sinuses; however, the number of patients is too small for a final statement on this matter.