title: Primary mucosal melanoma of the head and neck in Denmark, 1982-2012: Demographic and clinical aspects. A retrospective DAHANCA study.
abstract: Background The study was performed to determine the epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological characteristics and prognosis of primary mucosal melanoma of the head and neck (MMHN) in Denmark. Material and methods This was a national retrospective multicenter study of patients diagnosed with MMHN between 1982 and 2012 in Denmark. Data were retrieved from national databases and patient records. Incidence trends were examined for the entire period. We prepared survival curves and performed univariate and multivariate analysis for the period 1992-2012 to identify possible prognostic factors. Results No significant trends in incidence were found in the study period. The three-year overall and disease-free survival rates for MMHN were 46.5% and 35.5%, respectively. Negative margins was an independent predictor of disease-free survival, and age below 65, absence of distant metastases, and low overall TNM stage were predictors of overall survival. Radiotherapy did not improve survival significantly. Recurrence rates were high, even for patients with negative margins. Conclusions MMHN remains a rare disease with a poor prognosis, particularly for patients aged over 65, those with distant metastasis, and those with advanced TNM stage. Importantly, the rate of recurrence is lowest in patients with negative margins.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oto-rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology , Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lawaetz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oto-rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology , Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark ;|b Danish Cancer Society Research Center , Danish Cancer Society , Copenhagen , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Birch-Johansen
authors.affiliation: b Danish Cancer Society Research Center , Danish Cancer Society , Copenhagen , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.affiliation: c Department of Oncology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Jesper G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pathology , Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.affiliation: e Department of Oto-rhino-Laryngology , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gade
authors.affiliation: f Department of Oto-rhino-Laryngology , Aarhus University Hospital , Aarhus , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Møller-Madsen
authors.affiliation: g Department of Oto-rhino-Laryngology , Aalborg University Hospital , Aalborg , Denmark.
authors.forename: Negar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pourbordbari
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oto-rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology , Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark ;
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Buchwald
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies