Malignant melanoma of the head and neck: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of cases in northern Japan.

Background Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is rare and is associated with a poor prognoses because of locoregional failure and distant metastasis. The aim of our study was to review the characteristics of these patients in northern Japan and to analyze their outcomes. Methods The medical records of 94 patients who had been provided initial treatment in 12 institutes from 1998 to 2007 were reviewed. Results When the 5-year overall survival rates of patients were evaluated, we found that the survival rates of patients treated by chemotherapy were significantly lower than those of patients treated by surgery or radiation. The survival rates of the single-treatment modality, 2-modality, and =3-modality groups were 23.4%, 38.0%, and 33.6%, respectively. Conclusion Our results suggest that patients who underwent combined treatment had better prognoses. However, we found that chemotherapy had no additional survival benefits. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012