title: Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: Primary mucosal melanoma of the head and neck (MMHN) comprises approximately 1% of all malignant melanomas. It presents more commonly in an elderly population and has no significant gender predominance. Given its rarity, most evidence of the causes, behavior, and treatment approaches for MMHN originates from isolated case reports and retrospective series. Between 1945 and 2011, at least 1951 cases of MMHN have been reported in the literature. Despite numerous technological developments in surgery and radiation therapy, as well as advances in systemic modalities, MMHN is an aggressive malignancy with a very poor prognosis. Complete surgical excision with clear margins remains the primary treatment modality. Adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy may improve locoregional control but does not appear to affect survival. Definitive particle radiation therapy promises to provide high rates of local control for nonoperable patients. Recent molecular evidence suggests that proto-oncogene KIT aberrations in a subset of mucosal melanomas may represent a potential diagnostic value and serve as a therapeutic target for tyrosine kinase inhibitors in an adjuvant setting for patients with advanced MMHN.
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazarev
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Louis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: Richard.Bakst@mountsinai.org.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakst
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015182:Lymphatic Irradiation; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf