Balm AJ, Kroon BB, Hilgers FJ, Jonk A, Mooi WJ. Lymph node metastases in the neck and parotid gland from an unknown primary melanoma.
Clin Otolaryngol 1994;
19:161-5. [PMID:
8026097 DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-2273.1994.tb01203.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A lymph node metastasis in the neck or parotid region from an unknown primary melanoma is an uncommon occurrence. Out of a total of 300 patients with head and neck melanoma treated at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between 1976 and 1992, 17 (5.7%) presented in this way. The most common site for metastatic lymph nodes (18 nodes in 17 patients) was level V (n = 7), followed by the parotid region (n = 4), level II (n = 4), level III (n = 2), and level IV (n = 7). Two patients had local excision of the neck node metastasis only, while the remaining 15 patients underwent more extensive surgical treatment. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate in this group was 48%, with a median survival of 36 months, which is more or less similar to the prognosis of stage II melanoma of the head and neck with a known, surgically treated primary tumour. No relation was found between disease-free interval and sex, the number of positive lymph nodes or the duration of symptoms.
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