title: Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck: recurrence characteristics and survival outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to review oncologic outcomes and recurrence characteristics of head and neck mucosal melanomas (HNMMs) managed at a tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of 10 patients who were managed for HNMMs between 2001 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age was 66 years (range 28-76 years) and male/female (M/F) ratio was 1:5. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates and overall survival (OS) rates were 11.7% and 35%, respectively; and the 5-year DFS rates and OS rates 11.7% and 23.3%, respectively. The median DFS and OS periods were 12 months (range 2-36 months) and 17 months (range 7-96 months), respectively. The rates of development of local, regional, and systemic recurrences were 20%, 50%, and 80%, respectively. Lungs were involved in all patients who had distant metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that HNMMs has a very aggressive course and that distant metastases are common. For this reason, systemic control of the disease is an important aim of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Faruk Kadri
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Bakkal
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Başman
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: yusufkizil@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kızıl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gümüşok
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekrem Zorlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Utku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aydil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate