Analysis of prognostic factors for survival in patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma

Objective:To analysis the clinical and histopathological features, and the effect of surgical treatment and adjuvant therapy for the survival in patients of head and neck mucosal melanoma（HNMM）. Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 46 patients with HNMM, and the factors related to survival were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis. Log-rank test was used for univariate analysis, and COX proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis. Result:The 3 and 5 year cumulative survival rates of 46 patients with HNMM were 47.5% and 34.1%, respectively, and the median survival time was 36 months. Univariate analysis revealed that the factors affecting survival rates in patients with HNMM included tumor staging, surgical margins, postoperative targeted therapy, distant metastasis and local recurrence（P<0.05）. Multiple factor COX regression analysis showed that distant metastasis, tumor staging, surgical margins were independent risk factors for survival rates in patients with HNMM, and postoperative targeted therapy was the protective factor. Conclusion:HNMM is of high malignancy and low survival rate. Early diagnosis and complete surgical resection are the primary methods to improve the survival, and postoperative targeted therapy may be an intervention to improve the survival.