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Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor. The incidence of CM is 1–4 % of all cancers and 3–5 % of all malignant neoplasms of the skin. According to different authors, CM is localized in the area of head and neck (H&N) in 22–46 %. Despite revolutionary discoveries in recent years in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, the main treatment option of primary СМ is still surgery. However, the question about the size of surgical margins and tissue sparing excision is still pending, particularly in the area of the head and neck. Despite the possibilities of modern methods of revealing of metastases in lymph nodes (LN), diagnosis of “latent” metastases in LN and further tactics of treatment remains the matter of argument. The purpose of this publication is to review the literature on the current problem in the surgical treatment of СМ of the H&N.This article is the result of analysis of publication devoted to surgical treatment and diagnosis of СМ metastases in the LN of the H&N.

Introduction. Prognosis of patients with localized primary cutaneous melanoma depends on various clinical and pathomorphological aspects. The latest ones are the Breslow depth, Clark invasion, ulceration and mitoses in primary tumor. All of this prognostic features have been studied and discussed during last 30 years. The analyses of the prognostic value of this factors is being continued till nowadays, and that is the main idea of our current study.The aim of our study is to determine the influence of pathomorphological factors on long-term treatment results in patients with primary head and neck cutaneous melanoma.Materials and methods. 174 patients with localized primary head and neck cutaneous melanoma were included (were considered for the analysis) (1995–2014). All the patients were considered for Breslow depth (T), Clark invasion, and ulceration using archived pathomorphological tissue samples. The proliferative tumor activity (mitotic rate) was determined in 24 cases with tumor with tumor thickness less than 1.0 mm.Results. Recurrence-free survival according to ulceration and N0 correlated with long-term treatment results. So, 5-year survival was worse in group with ulceration – 51,8 ± 5,9 % rather than group without ulceration – 69,5 ± 6,4% (р = 0,046). Recurrence-free survival according to Clark invasion and N0 correlated with long-term treatment results and worsened with growth of invasion level. So, 5-year survival in I level group was 100 % versus 27,8 ± 9,4 % in V level group (р = 0,00014). Recurrence-free survival according to mitotic rate did not correlate with long-term treatment results. So, 5-year survival was 79,5 ± 13,0 % and 81,8 ± 11,6 % respectively.Conclusions. Ulceration of the primary tumor is a factor affecting the rate of regional metastases, which subsequently leads to decrease in relapse-free survival. Also, a direct relation exists between increased rate of regional and distant metastases and increased Clark level of invasion. Mitotic index has a certain effect on the rate of regional metastases, but it doesn’t manifest in analysis of long-term results. Supposedly, this factor is not “strong” enough.