Mucosal Melanoma of Nasal Cavity in an Elderly Woman: A Case Report

Mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity is one of the rare tumors affecting the head and neck region. It is an aggressive tumor and patients often have advanced disease at the time of presentation. Currently, there are no definite treatment protocols for this rare tumor. The tumor is best managed by radical surgical excision followed by chemoradiotherapy. This is a report on a 77-year-old lady, who presented with symptoms of nasal bleeding and nasal blockage for the past 1 month. Clinical examination showed a polypoidal mass lesion filling the nasal cavity on the left side. A biopsy of the lesion was suggestive of mucosal melanoma. A computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scan showed localized disease in the nasal cavity. Surgical excision of the tumor was done via an endoscopic approach. She did not agree to further treatment, the disease recurred within 3 months and she succumbed to the disease 11 months later. Mucosal melanoma of the nasal cavity is one of the aggressive tumors with a very low 5-year survival rate. Radical surgery followed by aggressive chemoradiotherapy is the currently followed treatment modality. Despite the modern advancements in the field of oncology, this tumor still has a very poor prognosis.