Head and Neck Melanoma; access to staging and surgical treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the current standard of care for patients diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma of the head and neck – access to staging and surgical treatment
IRAS ID
323256
Contact name
Joshua Totty
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer and is the 5th most common cancer in the United Kingdom (UK). It can affect anywhere on the skin including on the head and neck. The cancer often is first noticed as an abnormal mole. Treatment is by removing the cancer with surgery. Early spread of the cancer can be found by testing nearby glands called lymph nodes. This operation is called a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). If the cancer has spread then new treatments, such as immunotherapy, can be given to help the person live for longer.
The sentinel lymph nodes are usually in the armpits or groin for melanoma on the body, arms or legs. For cancers in the head and neck the sentinel lymph nodes will usually be in the neck. For several reasons SLNB in the neck is not offered in every hospital that manages patients with melanoma. The problem with this is that some patients who could benefit are not offered the new treatments that extend life because it is not known that their cancer has spread.
In this study we aim to gather national data on the management of melanoma of the head and neck including variation in practice between different hospitals. We will use routinely collected anonymous data called ‘Hospital Episode Statistics’ to look at who is offered SLNB after melanoma of the head or neck, what treatments they have, if their melanoma comes back and how long they survive for.
By doing this, we hope to identify whether SLNB should be made available to everyone diagnosed with melanoma of the head and neck.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0678
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion