The aim of this report is to present a case of a patient with a recurrent nasal cavity
amelanotic melanoma (AM), with emphasis on diagnosis and
therapy options of this clinical entity. A 65-year-old female patient presented with
pain in the right cheek region and
nasal obstruction. In 2013, she was diagnosed with mucosal
melanoma (MM) of the left nasal cavity. After endoscopic surgery and
radiotherapy, the patient was followed by the oncology team. Five years after the initial diagnosis, rhinoscopy showed a tumorous formation in the right nasal cavity. The
tumor mass was without black discoloration and was the same color as the surrounding nasal mucosa. Microscopic examination after biopsy of the
tumor confirmed amelanotic MM. The patient underwent an additional endoscopic surgery. A complete standard diagnostic workup for MM found
metastases in head and neck lymph nodes, on both sides. MMs of head and neck are uncommon
malignancies. Unique biology of MM cells causes a high rate of recurrences. This report presents an example of recurrent AM of the nasal cavity, in treatment with checkpoint inhibitor (
pembrolizumab), which could provide a good
therapy option for patients with MM.