Malignant melanoma arising in the nasal cavity is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. Three cases, all females, aged 62, 73, and 94, were treated in our department from 1992 to 1995.
One of these was a case of amelanotic melanoma that could not be positively diagnosed as malignant melanoma before immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein, and Fontana-Masson's staining, had been done.
In three cases radical surgery was peformed with pre- or postoperative chemotherapy and immunotherapy (cryosurgery and/or interferon). Two of the patients experienced recurrence, and salvage therapy was subsequently performed.
All three are currently alive. The patient survival period ranged from 12 to 46 months after the initial therapy. The present protocol may be a useful approach to obtaining local control, however, the number of patients studied was too small, and the period after initial treatment too short, for conclusive statements on this matter.