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Prognostic value and therapeutic implications of nodal involvement in head and neck mucosal melanoma
Author(s) -
MoyaPlana Antoine,
Mangin David,
Blanchard Pierre,
Obongo Rais,
Casiraghi Odile,
Bidault François,
Temam Stéphane,
Robert Caroline,
Gorphe Philippe
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.26694
Subject(s) - medicine , nodal , occult , head and neck , neck dissection , melanoma , mucosal melanoma , surgery , retrospective cohort study , oncology , carcinoma , pathology , alternative medicine , cancer research
Abstract Background The prognostic significance of nodal involvement is not well established in head and neck mucosal melanoma (HNMM). Methods A retrospective, monocentric study was performed on 96 patients with HNMM treated between 2000 and 2017. Results At diagnosis, seventeen patients (17.8%) were cN1, with a higher risk for HNMM arising from the oral cavity ( p = 0.01). cN status had no prognostic value in patients with nonmetastatic resectable HNMM. No occult nodal metastasis was observed in the cN0 patients after a nodal dissection (ND). The nodal recurrence rate was similar in the cN1 and the cN0 patients. No isolated nodal recurrences were noted. Among the patients who underwent a ND, no benefit of this procedure was noted. Conclusions cN1 status is not a prognostic factor in patients with resectable HNMM. Elective ND should not be systematically performed in cN0 HNMM.