Publication:

Amelanotic mucosal melanoma of the left sinonasal cavity: a case report

Mucosal melanoma is rare type of melanoma accounted only 0.8-3.7% of melanoma. It defined as melanoma which occurs in mucous membrane, oral and nasal cavities, conjunctiva, genital sites, and rarely other mucosae. Head and neck melanoma accounted 50% among other sites. Recent studies, amelanotic subtype account 13.2% of all sino-nasal melanoma. Nasal cavity melanoma usually occurs on lateral nasal area especially in middle turbinate and inferior turbinate. Among other location, sino-nasal originated primary lesion was more deadly compared to other. We reported a case of amelanotic melanoma. 56 years old Asian Female presented with mass in left nose. The patient also complaint of recurring epistaxis, facial pain, epiphora, and blurred vision. After several follow up investigation, a diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma with orbit involvement was made. Subsequently patient underwent surgery for tumor removal. Although tumor has been removed, patient had to continue with adjuvant therapy for following month. Meticulous identifying and confirmation is an important factor which provide better understanding for the clinician in diagnosing.