The worldwide incidence of cutaneous melanoma has been increasing for the last 30 years in western populations. Among all melanomas, those located on the head and neck are more frequent than expected regarding the surface of this anatomical area, occur in older subjects than melanomas at other sites and have a worse prognosis than melanomas at other sites. The question whether head and neck melanomas could be a distinct entity has been debated.

Aim of the study was to compare clinical and histological characteristics between head and neck melanomas and melanomas at other sites.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with melanoma
• melanoma diagnosed between January 2004 and December 2011
• patients living in Champagne-Ardenne

Patients with melanoma.