Malignant melanoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: report of 24 patients and literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To report our experience of the management of patients with primary sinonasal malignant melanoma, and to review the relevant medical literature.


METHODS
Retrospective review examining treatment and outcomes.


RESULTS
Twenty-four patients were treated between 1982 and 2007. The mean age at presentation was 67.5 years. The overall five-year survival was 30 per cent; mean survival was three years and eight months.


CONCLUSIONS
Sinonasal malignant melanoma is associated with a poor outcome, and survival statistics have not improved over the last 40 years. Treatment should include radical surgery wherever possible. Local recurrence is common; radiotherapy may help control this but does not appear to affect overall survival. The limited evidence available suggests that endoscopic removal of sinonasal malignant melanoma is as effective as other local surgical means, but that craniofacial resection remains the 'gold standard' for tumours that contact or traverse the skull base. Novel biological treatments are emerging and hold promise for the future.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham, UK. njclifton@hotmail.com
N
N
Clifton
L
L
Harrison
P J
PJ
Bradley
N S
NS
Jones
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen