Primary malignant melanoma arising from the base of the tongue

Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis of Sinonasal Mucosal Malignant Melanoma: A Retrospective Study of 83 Cases in a Chinese Population

AIMS

Sinonasal mucosal malignant melanoma (SNMMM) is a rare disease. The aim of the present study was to describe its clinicopathological features and prognosis in a Chinese population.

METHODS

Data on 83 SNMMM patients were collected and analyzed. A survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test.

RESULTS

The most common presenting symptoms of SNMMM were nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and bloody rhinorrhea. Histopathologically, 38 cases (45.78%) were amelanotic. Five cell types (epithelioid, undifferentiated, plasmacytoid, spindle, and clear) were identified. Positive staining for human melanoma black-45 and Melan-A was diagnostic of SNMMM. Advanced age, multiple tumor sites, and amelanotic-type SNMMM indicated a worse outcome (p = 0.008, p = 0.009, and p = 0.013, respectively). Neither adjuvant therapy nor the tumor stage was associated with overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

SNMMM is an uncommon disease with atypical symptoms. Its histopathological appearance is variable, especially in the amelanotic type. Thus, immunohistochemistry is important in the diagnosis, and it should be performed according to the histology.

[Primary malignant melanoma arising from the base of the tongue: a case report]

Primary mucosal melanoma is a biologically aggressive neoplasm, which is rarely located at the base of the tongue. The absence of early signs and symptoms, the lack of an evidence-based treatment, the early development of metastases and high rates of local recurrence contribute to the overall poor prognosis of these melanomas. This paper reports the case of a 66-year-old male presenting with local recurrence of a primary melanoma of the base of the tongue.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the tongue in a 3-year-old boy: a case report

Introduction

Alveolar soft tissue sarcoma of the tongue is a very rare and aggressive tumor which occurs in infancy with a relatively controversial histogenesis. It may mimic benign vascular neoplasms and may metastasize to the lungs, brain or bones.

Case presentation

We present the case of a three-year-old Caucasian boy who was admitted to our department with a history of dysphagia and two episodes of oral bleeding which had lasted for a period of six months. A thorough histological examination together with imaging techniques form the basis of a reliable diagnosis.

Conclusion

Alveolar soft tissue sarcoma of the tongue is a rare tumor which occurs in infancy and which is often misdiagnosed pre-operatively. It should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of oral pediatric lesions.