OBJECTIVES: @entity320 arising from mucosa are rare and associated with a poor prognosis. This study aims to provide an analysis of metastatic pathways, time intervals, factors influencing metastatic spread and organs for distant @entity3 . METHODS: A total of 116 @entity1 with @entity320 of different sites were included. The mean follow-up interval was 47        52  months. @entity1 were assigned to two different metastatic pathways, either presenting loco-regional lymph node @entity3 as first spread or direct distant @entity3 . The distribution of distant @entity3 was assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-six @entity1 presented with a pre-existing metastatic spread and were not assigned to pathways. Of the included @entity1 , 44 developed @entity3 after treatment of the primary @entity5 ; 25 @entity1 directly developed distant @entity3 ; 16 @entity1 developed regional lymph node @entity3 prior to distant @entity3 . Location of the primary @entity5 in the upper airway or GI tract and advanced T  stage were significant risk factors of direct distant @entity3 . Distant @entity3 are mainly located in the lung, the liver and non-regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: @entity320 show a high rate of direct distant @entity3 rather than regional lymph node @entity3 . Thus the follow-up should always include a whole-body cross-sectional imaging in high-risk @entity5 . KEY POINTS:     @entity320 show a high rate of direct distant @entity3 .     T  stage and primary location are predictors for direct distant @entity3 .     Distant @entity3 were mainly found in lung, liver and lymph nodes.     Follow-up of a high-risk mucosal @entity320 should include whole-body imaging.

Metastatic patterns and metastatic sites in mucosal XXXX : a retrospective study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumours', 'tumour'] @entity320 :: ('MESH:D008545', 'Disease') :: ['melanoma', 'mucosal melanomas', 'Melanomas', 'Mucosal melanomas'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases']
@entity320 :: (MESH:D008545,Disease) :: ['melanoma']
