CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA

Abstract

Eleven cases of malignant melanoma in the head and neck region diagnosed and treated at the University of Tsukuba Hospital over a ten-year period were clinically analyzed. The patients consisted of 4 males and 7 females, ranging in age from 20 to 88 years (mean age, 67 years). The tumor originated from the nasal cavity in seven cases and from the maxillary sinus, nasopharyngeal mucosa, external auditory canal and skin of the head in one case each. Most patients were treated by proton beam therapy alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. The disease-specific survival rate was 22.5% at 3 years. With recent reports suggesting the effectiveness of proton beam therapy for malignant melanoma of the head and neck region, a combination of treatment modalities including proton beam therapy might improve the survival rate, however, our cases were limited in number. The standard strategy for the treatment of malignant melanoma of the head and neck region should be established, including proton beam therapy.