[Primary sinu-nasal melanomas. Clinical aspects, therapy and follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is a rare entity felt to have a poor prognosis. We examined the frequency and characteristics of this type of melanoma in a defined geographic region over a period of 16 years.


METHODS
Nine patients (eight men, one woman, mean age 62 years) with primary nasal and sinusoidal malignant melanoma were treated between 1985 and 2000 in the Department of Dermatology in cooperation with the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. All patients underwent surgery, eight with clinical complete tumor removal and one with only partial removal. All patients had radiotherapy after surgery. History, potential risk factors, clinical presentation, histological and immunohistochemical data and clinical course were documented.


RESULTS
All patients died because of their tumor within the observation period (median survival: 30 months, range 7 to 75 months). There were three different courses of the disease: (1) uncontrollable primary tumor (one patient, survival 11 months); (2) local recurrence with metastasis (five patients, median survival 40.2 months); (3) metastasis after a disease-free interval (three patients, median survival 19.3 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is a rare entity which is usually rapidly fatal. Effective treatment approaches are not available.
Richtig
E
E
Universitätsklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Abteilung für Allgemeine Dermatologie, Auenbruggerplatz 8, 8036 Graz, Osterreich.
Regauer
S
S
Jakse
R
R
Anderhuber
W
W
Smolle
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate