Fifty Shades: Controversies and Updates in Head & Neck Melanoma

Monday, October 13, 2025

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EDT

Location: 126

CME/MOC Credit: 1

Disclosure(s):

Tiffany A. Glazer, MD, FACS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Aru Panwar, MD FACS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Brittny N. Tillman, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Mirabelle B. Sajisevi, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Management of cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck continues to evolve every year. Changes in AJCC staging, controversies relating to Mohs micrographic surgery versus wide local excision for management of the primary site, evolving sentinel lymph node biopsy techniques, changing thresholds for completion neck dissection, increasing the role of immunotherapy in management of melanoma, and implementing intra-lesion injectable therapies in managing advanced head and neck cutaneous melanoma are all important areas that are dramatically altering diagnostic and therapeutic practice patterns. Otorhinolaryngologists play an essential role in management of patients with head and neck cutaneous melanoma, and need to stay up to date on surgical controversies, emerging therapeutics, and combinatorial therapies.

This panel discussion will focus on informing otorhinolaryngologists about key updates relating to Mohs versus wide local excision, sentinel lymph node biopsy, approaches to management of cN0 nodal basins upon discovery of positive sentinel nodes for patients with head and neck cutaneous melanoma, the integration of systemic therapy in management of advanced head and neck melanoma, and the nuances of utilizing injectable immunotherapy agents in clinical practice. Additionally, practice pearls and pitfalls relating to setting up a program focused on injectable immunotherapy for otorhinolaryngologists will be described utilizing a case based approach.

This panel has been well-attended in previous years and benefitted from significant audience participation. Audience participation will be encouraged again, and members will have the opportunity to engage in focused discussion in the controversies of the panelists' presentations.

Learning Objectives:

Describe different techniques, pearls & pitfalls in sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma; examine controversies in management of cN0 nodal basin upon discovery of positive sentinel lymph nodes.
Identify role of systemic therapy and its interactions with surgical therapy for head and neck cutaneous melanoma.
Define role of the head and neck surgeon in intra-lesion injectable therapies in managing advanced head and neck cutaneous melanoma.

Moderator(s)

Tiffany A. Glazer, MD, FACS

Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Education, Residency Program Director
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Panelist(s)

Tiffany A. Glazer, MD, FACS

Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Education, Residency Program Director
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Aru Panwar, MD FACS

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center
Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Brittny N. Tillman, MD

Associate Professor, H&N Fellowship Director
UT Southwestern Department of Otolaryngology
Dallas, TX, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Mirabelle B. Sajisevi, MD

Associate Professor, Residency Program Director
The University of Vermont Medical Center
Burlington, VT, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.