MELANOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK

Course overview

MELANOMA IS A MALIGNANT TUMOR PRODUCED FROM MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION OF MELANOCYTES. THIS CAN BE SPORADIC OR ARISE FROM A PREEXISTING PREMALIGNANT LESION. DUE TO THE FACT THAT MELANOCYTES ARE OF NEURAL CREST ORIGIN, MELANOMAS CAN ARISE IN OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE NEURAL CREST CELLS ARE PRESENT, INCLUDING THE BRAIN AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 25% OF MELANOMAS ARE FOUND IN THE HEAD AND NECK REGION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CAUSES OF MELANOMA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.