Patterns of recurrence and retreatment outcomes among clinical stage I and II head and neck melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine survival outcomes in patients who underwent retreatment of recurrent cases of cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck (CMHN).

METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients who were treated for primary clinical stage I or II CMHN between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2015.

RESULTS: Twenty percent (33/168) of the patients developed a recurrence. Sixty-six percent (4/6) of patients who developed local recurrence first and 50% (3/6) of patients who developed regional recurrence first were alive without evidence (NED) of disease at last follow-up, while 0% (0/21) of patients who developed distant or simultaneous recurrences first were NED at last follow-up. Among the 7 patients who were NED, the mean time from recurrence to last follow-up was 735 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Of patients with isolated local or regional recurrences, 58% (7/12) obtained durable curative treatment for recurrent melanoma.