title: Desmoplastic melanoma of the head and neck: histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 28 cases.
abstract: Studies of the immunohistochemical profiles and clinical course of desmoplastic melanoma have produced conflicting results. We identified 28 cases of desmoplastic melanoma after a search of our files for spindle cell neoplasms of the head and neck from 1960 through 1995. The 17 male (61%) and 11 female (39%) patients averaged 65 years of age. The cheek was the most common location (12 cases, 43%). The average length of follow-up was 5 years. Overall 5-year survival rate was 46%. Melan A and tyrosinase positivity (P = 0.0195), smooth muscle actin positivity (P = 0.0328), tumor size (P = 0.0297), and tumor thickness (P = 0.0419) were significantly associated with local progression-free survival. No histologic or immunohistochemical marker was associated with overall or metastasis-free survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: A Daniel
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.forename: V Shane
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pankratz
authors.forename: Kerry D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Jean E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor