Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology (Jan 2005)
Primary Oral Malignant Melanoma - A Case Report and Review of Literature
Abstract
A 65 year old female reported with a chief complain of discoloration of palate since 8 months which was initially scattered and restricted to anterior palate; later on discoloration gradually spread over to involve the whole palate and buccolabial gingiva on right side. FNAC from lesion and submandibular lymph node revealed malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma (MM) is a neoplasm of melanocytic origin that arises from a benign melanocytic lesion or de novo from melanocytes within otherwise normal mucosa or skin. It is one of most biologically unpredictable and deadly of all human neoplasms. It is third most common skin cancer, and accounts for 5% of all tumours. Although it comprises 1.3% of all cancers, MM of oral cavity accounts for only 0.2 to 8% of all reported melanomas. The mucosal melanoma tends to appear at a higher stage and is much aggressive than its cutaneous counterpart. The prognosis of oral melanoma is extremely poor, until recently less than 29% of affected patients survived for 5 years or more.
