Mandibular metastasis of cutaneous melanoma

Abstract

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes that can metastasize to every organ of the body, but metastasis to the oral cavity is uncommon. We describe a case of metastatic malignant melanoma to the mandible in a 33-years-old woman. The patient had a 2 cm × 4 cm firm, ulcerated nodule, distal to the second mandibular right molar. Incisional biopsy revealed epithelioid cells and immunohistochemistry was positive for HMB-45, S-100 protein and vimentin. The patient was referred to the local cancer hospital for treatment but died 3 months later. Metastatic malignant melanomas of the oral cavity are rare and unusual. Early diagnosis of the primary tumor is essential for successful treatment and to improvement of patient prognosis.

Keywords

• Melanoma
• Mandible
• Neoplasm metastasis