Metastatic melanoma of unknown primary origin shows prognostic similarities to regional metastatic melanoma

Abstract

patients were classified as having lymph node metastasis, and their 5-year survival rate was 50%. Disseminated disease was diagnosed in only 8 patients, who had a Section of Dermatologic Oncology, Department median survival of 6 months. Comparison of survival probabilities for patients of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University, with in-transit metastases and unknown primary tumors with the probabilities for Tuebingen, Germany.those with cutaneous primary tumors revealed a significant advantage for the former group. No significant differences were found for patients with lymph node metastasis when those with unknown primary tumors were compared with those who had cutaneous melanomas with regional lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS.The clinical disease course of patients with metastatic melanoma of unknown primary origin is similar to that of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma when the same clinical stages of the disease are compared. Based on the assumption that the majority of regional metastases develop from completely regressed primary cutaneous melanoma, recommendations for initial staging examinations in patients with unknown primary tumors are given in this article.

Malignant Melanoma S3‐Guideline “Diagnosis, Therapy and Follow‐up of Melanoma”

“…Such patients should be examined carefully to exclude the possibility of a hidden primary by examination of the eyes, inner ears […], and possibly colonoscopy [450]. The presenting lymph nodes or metastases should be treated appropriately", according to guidelines, "regardless of the inability to detect the primary tumour."…”

Pleomorphic adenoma of the upper lip

“…Several studies have reported worse prognosis for patients with MUPs (10), while others have reported better (2,6,11) or similar survival rates (3,7). With regard to isolated subcutaneous masses, Schlagenhauff et al reported a 5 year survival of 83% (2).…”

Pleomorphic adenoma of the upper lip

“…Schlagenhauff et al found cutaneous/subcutaneous metastases to be more frequent, accounting for more than half of all MUPs in a series including 3258 melanoma patients (2). The prevalence of solitary lesions of melanoma confined to dermal or subcutaneous tissue has been reported to be 0.51%, 0.63% and 0.92% in three large series (2,4,5). The sites included the head and neck, upper extremity, lower extremity, and trunk.…”

“…This problem becomes even more complex when it presents as a metastatic lesion with no known primary site. Melanomas of unknown primary site account for 1-8% of all melanomas in different series (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Lymph node metastases account for nearly two third of these cases in most of the series with axillary lymph nodes being the most common site.…”