Abstract
The incidence rate of malignant melanoma has shown a rapid worldwide rise in recent years. The staging and management of head and neck melanoma presents some unique challenges. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment, while sentinel node biopsy is the most accurate staging modality for regional disease. The complex regional anatomy and lymphovascular drainage of this region may account for the increased biologic aggressiveness and treatment challenges of this disease. Improved understanding of the radiobiology of melanoma has resulted in new adjuvant radiotherapy approaches, yielding improved control rates. The treatment outcomes of metastatic head and neck melanoma remain disappointing but important progress has been made in the understanding of melanoma biology.
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Head and Neck Neoplasms* / drug therapy
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Head and Neck Neoplasms* / pathology
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Head and Neck Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
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Head and Neck Neoplasms* / surgery
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Humans
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Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / drug therapy
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Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / radiotherapy
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Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / secondary
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Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / surgery
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Immunotherapy
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Interferons / therapeutic use
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Interleukin-2 / administration & dosage
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Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use
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Lymphatic Metastasis
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Melanoma* / drug therapy
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Melanoma* / radiotherapy
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Melanoma* / secondary
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Melanoma* / surgery
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Neoplasm Staging
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Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
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Skin Neoplasms* / drug therapy
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Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
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Skin Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
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Skin Neoplasms* / surgery
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Interleukin-2
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Interferons