title: Accuracy of the current TNM classification in predicting survival in patients with sinonasal mucosal melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The first International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM classification for aerodigestive malignant mucosal melanoma was not published until 2009, and since then, only a few studies have evaluated the accuracy of this staging system. Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of this UICC staging system for sinonasal malignant mucosal melanoma (SMMM) in a nationwide survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, population-based, multicenter study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hospital surgical and discharge registries were used to identify the patients. A database including demographic and clinicopathologic variable was created.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 50 SMMM patients diagnosed in Finland from 1990 to 2004 were evaluated. Three- and 5-year overall survival rates were 44% and 27%, respectively. Significant differences in overall survival according to T classification (P = .028, log rank) and stage (P = .02, log rank) were found. Tumor extension to the sphenoid sinus had a significant negative impact on survival (n = 11, P = .03, log rank).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current UICC staging system for mucosal melanoma provides a useful format for staging SMMMs in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koivunen
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäck
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pukkila
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laranne
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
authors.forename: Reidar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grénman
authors.forename: Antti A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate