title: Malignant melanoma of nasal cavity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant melanoma rarely develops in the mucous membranes. Statistical data indicate that rhinosinusal mucosal melanoma was reported in less than 1% of all melanic tumors and in 2-8% of all cancers developed in the nasal fossae and sinuses. Due to reduce and non-specific symptoms and a high degree of invasion away, patients come for a medical expertise in advanced stages of the disease, which is leading to a poor prognosis. The average five-year survival is 20-30%.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 65-year-old female patient coming from a rural environment, hospitalized for unilateral nasal obstruction and nasal mucosal changes of a blackish appearance on all of the walls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endoscopic examination revealed a matter and of a blackish appearance nasal mucosa along the whole length of the left nasal cavity (septum, turbinates, floor, ceiling). Presumptive diagnosis of melanoma led to the excision of inferior and middle turbinate mucosa, floor and ceiling mucosa and the excision of the nasal septum, keeping the columella and the posterior portion. Histopathological and mostly immunohistochemical exams confirmed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. To determine the phenotype of tumor cells, it was evaluated their immunostaining for HMB-45, Melan-A, S-100, vimentin, cyclin D1 and CD44 markers. The patient followed oncologic treatment and radiochemotherapy, presenting a favorable evolution with the absence of loco-regional recurrence or distant metastasis 24 months postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: ENT Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania. sorin.ciolofan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciolofan
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ioniţă
authors.forename: Carmen Aurelia
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mogoantă
authors.forename: Florina Carmen
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anghelina
authors.forename: Luminiţa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiuţu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stanciu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010858:Pigmentation