Mucosal Melanoma of Head and Neck: A Rare and Aggressive Disease—A Register‐Based Cohort Study

Background Mucosal melanomas of the head and neck are rare and often diagnosed in the advanced stage. This study examines the incidence, survival and histology of mucosal melanoma compared to its cutaneous counterpart. Methods This register‐based cohort study reviews head and neck melanomas at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, from 2002 to 2023. Results A total of 56 patients with mucosal and 714 with cutaneous melanoma were reviewed. The incidence of head and neck mucosal melanoma in the region was 1.55/million/year. The most common sites for mucosal melanomas were the nose and paranasal sinuses. Mucosal melanoma was more common in women, whereas cutaneous melanoma was more common in men ( p > 0.05). A significant difference emerged in mortality between mucosal and cutaneous melanoma, as 5‐year survival was only 12.0% in the mucosal melanoma group compared with 60.3% in the cutaneous melanoma group. Conclusions Mucosal melanoma is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor survival; thus, prompt diagnosis is essential.