Primary malignant melanoma of the pharynx

• Published in: Journal of laryngology and otology Vol. 115; no. 11; pp. 931 - 934
• Main Authors: Öztürk, Özcan, Özek, Hüsnü, Cansiz, Harun, Karakullukçu, Bariş
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.11.2001
• Subjects: (RF) Otorhinolaryngology; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Combined Modality Therapy; Dacarbazine - administration & dosage; Dermatology; Female; Humans; Immunotherapy, Active - methods; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Interleukin-2 - therapeutic use; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Melanoma; Melanoma - pathology; Melanoma - secondary; Melanoma - therapy; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - secondary; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - therapy; Pharynx; Treatment; Tropical medicine; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Asia; Turkey; Pharynx; Treatment; Melanoma; Immunohistochemistry; Histopathology; Immunotherapy; Malignant melanoma; ENT disease; Adult; Evolution; Female; Pharynx disease; Age 30-39; Diagnosis; Endoscopy; Localization; Human; Treatment efficiency; Exploration; Malignant tumor; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Case study; Pathology; Symptomatology; Chemotherapy; Medical imagery; Combined treatment; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0022-2151; 1748-5460
• DOI: 10.1258/0022215011909404

Primary mucosal malignant melanomas are rare. They appear late in life and their prognosis is grave. Although there is no consensus on therapy, wide surgical resection followed by radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are treatment modalities. In this report we present a case of widespread primary mucosal malignant melanoma located in the pharynx. After immunotherapy (four cycles of interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha) and chemotherapy (four cycles of cisplatin and dacarbazine) has been applied as primary therapy for suppression of the mass, transoral total pharyngeal resection was performed. After surgery three cycles of immunotherapy and three cycles of chemotherapy were administered followed by radiotherapy (total dose of 6600 cGy). An additional three cycles of immunotherapy and chemotherapy were administered. Although no local recurrence was observed during the 14 months of follow-up after the completion of radiotherapy, cranial and lung metastasis were detected in the 12th month.