%0 Comparative Study
%T Prognostic value of S100/CD31 and S100/podoplanin double immunostaining in mucosal malignant melanoma of the head and neck.
%A Wermker K
%A Brauckmann T
%A Klein M
%A Haßfeld S
%A Schulze HJ
%A Hallermann C
%J Head Neck
%V 37
%N 9
%D Sep 2015
%M 24817089
%F 3.821
%R 10.1002/hed.23761
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>In uncommon mucosal melanomas of the head and neck established prognostic factors are rare and controversially discussed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcome and value of S100/podoplanin and S100/CD31 double immunostaining in head and neck mucosal melanomas.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Retrospectively, patients with head and neck mucosal melanomas treated between 1973 and 2008 were analyzed. S100/podoplanin and S100/CD31 immunostaining were performed to detect lymph vessel invasion (LVI) and blood vessel invasion (BVI). Predictive parameters for disease-specific survival (DSS) were identified using univariate and multivariate statistics.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Forty-two patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma were included. Three-year, 5-year, and 10-year DSS rates were 59%, 44%, and 20%, respectively. Age above 70 years, occurrence of distant metastasis, LVI, and BVI were significantly associated with shorter DSS time (p < .05), whereas localization at the conjunctiva showed better outcome.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>S100/podoplanin and S100/CD31 double immunostaining detect reliable LVI and BVI in head and neck mucosal melanoma and both are associated significantly with worse prognosis.