Introduction: About 25% of melanomas are localized in head and neck skin, and this particular localization is most difficult to treat, and the prognosis is less favorable. The depth of melanoma infiltration (Clark and Breslau grade) into the skin is the main factor of local advancement of the disease. Surgical treatment is an essential therapeutic modality in patients with melanoma.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate results of our surgical treatment of melanomas in head and neck localisation, treated from 1997 to 2007 in Department of Oncological and Reconstructive Surgery in Center of Oncology IMSC in Gliwice.
Material: We analysed group of 47 patients (aged 26 to 75 years, mean 49), treated by surgical excision of malignant melanoma in the head and neck region. Most of the patiens required to use free flaps or skin graft technique to close posexcisional defect, on basis of clinical considerations.
Results: The 5-year total survival for all patients was 62% and were dependent on depht of melanoma infiltration and regional lymph node metastasis. The significant prognostic factors were: localization of primary focus, local progression of disease, free microscopical excision margins sex and age.
Conclusions: Prognosis in the patients with melanoma of the head and neck is unreliable and dependent on local advancement of disease and localization of primary focus. Surgical treatment is an essential therapeutic modality in patients with melanoma. Adiuvant radiotherapy after surgical treatment of melanoma of the head and neck is intended for the patiens with high risk of local or regional recurence of disease.