Predictors of survival in head and neck mucosal melanoma

Mucosal melanomas are among the most lethal of head and neck cancers. Although they can arise from any mucosa-lined surface, mucosal melanomas most commonly occur in the sinonasal regions of the head and neck [1]. In comparison to cutaneous, acral, and ocular melanomas, mucosal melanoma exhibits an aggressive clinical course with poor prognosis [2–5]. Diagnosis is often delayed given few and nonspecific presenting symptoms mimicking more common benign processes [6]. Furthermore, head and neck mucosal melanomas (HNMMs) have relatively high rates of local, regional, and distant metastases despite aggressive multimodality therapy [7].

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