Background
Cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck exhibits poor prognosis and higher rates of recurrence. Furthermore the complex anatomical and aesthetic features of the head and neck can make wide local excision particularly difficult in this region.
Method
This systematic review was performed to identify studies that examined optimal excision margins in head and neck cutaneous melanoma between the year 2000 and 2022. Pubmed, Cochrane library and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies. Primary outcomes included rates of recurrence and overall survival (OS).
Results
Thirteen studies were included comprising 7738 patients. The cheek was the most common location for head and neck melanoma, with the highest rate loco-regional recurrences identified in scalp melanoma. Breslow thickness was consistently identified as a predictor of positive resection margins, increased risk of recurrence and reduced OS. 38.4% of studies reported no significant correlation between resection margin and survival
Conclusion
Our results reflect previous data in cutaneous melanoma which showed no significant prognostic effect of resection margins.
Katie Nolan1, C Canavan1, Tom Moran2, Fergal O’Duffy2, Shirley Potter3
1 Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, St James’s Hospital, Dublin
2 Department Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
3 Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin