Head and neck mucosal melanoma: experience with 42 patients, with emphasis on the role of postoperative radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of head and neck mucosal melanoma remains a challenge. Surgery has traditionally been the main therapeutic approach. The role of postoperative radiotherapy has never been clearly established.


METHODS
The experience with a group of 42 patients (16 males, 26 females) with a primary head and neck mucosal melanoma is reported.


RESULTS
Eleven of 19 patients (57.9%) receiving surgery alone developed a regional lymphatic metastasis. For patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy (19 patients), regional metastatic spread occurred in 4 patients (21%). Percentages of local failure were 57.9% (11/19) and 26.3% (5/19) for patients treated with surgery alone and for those treated with surgery and radiotherapy, respectively. Distant metastases occurred in 10 of 19 patients (52.6%) receiving surgery alone and in 9 of 19 patients (47.3%) receiving both therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
The present evaluation confirms a poor prognosis for patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma, independent of the treatment modality.
Meleti
Marco
M
Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Section of Odontostomatology, Department of ENT/Dental/Ophthalmological and Cervico-Facial Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Leemans
C René
CR
de Bree
Remco
R
Vescovi
Paolo
P
Sesenna
Enrico
E
van der Waal
Isaäc
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009426:Netherlands; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome