Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity. 2003

Chin-Yew Lin, and Shih-Wei Yang, and Chien-Hong Lai
Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan, ROC.

Malignant melanoma is a highly lethal melanocytic neoplasm, usually affecting the skin. Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity is rarely seen. Clinically, most patients display initial nonspecific symptoms of unilateral nasal obstruction or epistaxis. The prognosis is generally poor, with a mean survival time of 3.5 years. Extensive local invasion and distant metastasis to other organs may occur. The usual treatment of choice is radical excision. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy appear to have little effect. We report a fatal case of intranasal cavity malignant melanoma in which the patient initially presented with blood-tinged sputum, productive cough, and intermittent fever. Preoperative hepatic metastasis was found. Palliative surgery was performed to excise the nasal cavity tumor. Then, 6 courses of chemotherapy were further administered. Unfortunately, regional cervical nodal involvement and pancreatic head metastases occurred 1.5 years after the diagnosis. The patient's condition rapidly deteriorated, followed by death. We have chosen to discuss this aggressive condition because of its rarity and also to emphasize the importance of its early detection through vigilant attention to nonspecific nasal symptoms. A review of the literature concerning intranasal malignant melanoma is presented. We further discuss its possible etiology, site of origin, incidence, clinical presentations, principles of management, and outcome.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008545 Melanoma A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445) Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009296 Nasal Cavity The proximal portion of the respiratory passages on either side of the NASAL SEPTUM. Nasal cavities, extending from the nares to the NASOPHARYNX, are lined with ciliated NASAL MUCOSA. Nasal Cavities,Cavities, Nasal,Cavity, Nasal
D009669 Nose Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the NOSE. Cancer of Nose,Nasal Neoplasms,Nose Cancer,Cancer of the Nose,Nasal Cancer,Neoplasms, Nose,Cancer, Nasal,Cancer, Nose,Cancers, Nasal,Cancers, Nose,Nasal Cancers,Nasal Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Nasal,Neoplasm, Nose,Neoplasms, Nasal,Nose Cancers,Nose Neoplasm
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017809 Fatal Outcome Death resulting from the presence of a disease in an individual, as shown by a single case report or a limited number of patients. This should be differentiated from DEATH, the physiological cessation of life and from MORTALITY, an epidemiological or statistical concept. Fatal Outcomes,Outcome, Fatal,Outcomes, Fatal

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