Mucosal Melanomas of the Head and Neck

Overview

Summary:
Malignant melanoma belongs to relatively rare malignant tumours with increasing incidence in last decades. Mucosal forms of malignant melanoma are less common. They differ from their cutaneous counterparts in higher biological aggressiveness and lack of an official histopathological and clinical staging. Half of them occur in the head and neck. The authors present their own experiences with this disease which were acquired in two patients and they confront them with the literary data. Moreover, first experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy in mucosal melanomas is reported and perspectives of this method are discussed.

Key words:
mucosal melanoma, nasal septum, palatal tonsil, sentinel lymph node.