Desmoplastic melanoma of the lip.
BACKGROUND
This retrospective study looks at the prognosis of desmoplastic melanoma of the lip, correlating it with the clinical course, treatment, and patterns of failure.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with desmoplastic melanoma of the lip were seen at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1965 to 1998.


RESULTS
Three disease groups: (I) untreated tumor (3 patients), (II) excisional scar (10 patients), and (III) locoregional recurrence (9 patients). Group I had two cures and one failure. In group II six had no recurrences, and there were four failures. In group III, all patients failed. Ten patients (45%) had no evidence of disease, of which three (30%) had an initial misdiagnosis. Twelve patients (55%) died of disease or were living with disease, of which eight (67%) had an initial misdiagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Desmoplastic melanoma of the lip is often misdiagnosed and, therefore, inappropriately treated with multiple recurrences and poor prognosis. Accurate diagnosis and combined treatment may improve local control and survival.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Box 441, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Amy C
AC
Hessel
Robert M
RM
Byers
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies