BackgroundData on survival with mucosal melanoma and on prognostic factors of are scarce. It is still unclear if the disease course allows for mucosal melanoma to be treated as primary cutaneous melanoma or if differences in overall survival patterns require adapted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, this investigation is the first to present 10-year survival rates for mucosal melanomas of different anatomical localizations.Methodology116 cases from Sep 10 1984 until Feb 15 2011 retrieved from the Comprehensive Cancer Center and of the Central Register of the German Dermatologic Society databases in Tübingen were included in our analysis. We recorded anatomical location and tumor thickness, and estimated overall survival at 2, 5 and 10 years and the mean overall survival time. Survival times were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare survival times by localizations and by T-stages.Principal FindingsWe found a median overall survival time of 80.9 months, with an overall 2-year survival of 71.7%, 5-year survival of 55.8% and 10-year survival of 38.3%. The 10-year survival rates for patients with T1, T2, T3 or T4 stage tumors were 100.0%, 77.9%, 66.3% and 10.6% respectively. 10-year survival of patients with melanomas of the vulva was 64.5% in comparison to 22.3% of patients with non-vulva mucosal melanomas.ConclusionSurvival times differed significantly between patients with melanomas of the vulva compared to the rest (p = 0.0006). It also depends on T-stage at the time of diagnosis (p<0.0001).

• Mucosal melanomas show a high rate of direct distant metastases. • T stage and primary location are predictors for direct distant metastases. • Distant metastases were mainly found in lung, liver and lymph nodes. • Follow-up of a high-risk mucosal melanoma should include whole-body imaging.

Gemcitabine is widely used in oncology practice. There are rare reports of gemcitabine causing hepatotoxicity with all affected patients dying from acute liver failure. We describe a patient with stage 4 lymphoma who presented with an acute deterioration in liver function tests and hepatic encephalopathy not directly attributed to his disease. He had been taking gemcitabine for 5 months before admission. His clinical and biochemical problems resolved after discontinuing the drug. This is the first case described of a severe hepatotoxic reaction associated with gemcitabine that was followed by a complete recovery.

Kaposi's sarcoma is uncommon in the U.S.A. and common in Africa. Men are affected at least 4 times more frequently than females. It occurs simultaneously with lymphomas and resembles them in several ways. Radiation therapy controls the disease well. Ten patients were seen with the disease. Most had a relatively benign course, especially the 4 women. Treatment with supervoltage irradiation and cryosurgery was effective in controlling local disease.

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