Incidence and outcome of head and neck mucosal melanoma--a population-based survey from Northern Finland.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of head and neck mucosal melanoma in a recent, population-based patient series.


METHODS
Retrospective survey.


METHODS
A population-based, descriptive study with patients diagnosed in Northern Finland between 1983 and 2001. Age-adjusted incidence rates standardised to the world population and 2-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were calculated.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients were identified, yielding an age-adjusted incidence rate of 0.08 per 100000 per year. Almost 90% of the patients presented with localized (stage I) disease. Despite that, 13 patients died during the follow-up, 10 of them because of melanoma. The median survival time after diagnosis was 46 months. Five-year actuarial survival rate was 37% and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate 56%.


CONCLUSIONS
Prognosis of head and neck mucosal melanoma remains poor, despite favourable stage distribution at presentation.
Teppo
Heikki
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kanta-Hame Central Hospital, Hameenlinna, Finland. heikki.teppo@khshp.fi
Kervinen
Jaana
J
Koivunen
Petri
P
Alho
Olli-Pekka
OP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome