Mucosal Melanoma in the Head and Neck Region: Different Clinical Features and Same Outcome to Cutaneous Melanoma

Abstract

Mucosal melanoma (MM) in the head and neck (H&N) is relatively rare and behaves in distinct pattern from cutaneous melanoma (CM). We performed this study to define clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients and emphasize MM differences from CM. Forty-one patients with MM located in H&N were assessed. 94 CM patients originated from H&N region were also used for comparison. Patients had oral cavity (51%) and sinonasal location (49%).The median age was 60 years and gender distribution was equal. Thirty-two (78%) patients had localized stage, four (10%) patients had regional lymph node metastasis, and five (12%) patients had distant metastasis. The 1- and 5-year overall survival rates were 81% and 58%, respectively. Outcomes were similar between sinonasal and oral cavity patients (). Advanced disease was the significant prognostic factor for outcome (). MM patients are older () and more diagnosed as a localized disease patients at presentation than those with CM (). Overall survival rates were identical in patients with MM and CM (). In conclusion, despite different clinical features, outcome was identical in patients with MM and CM located in the H&N region.