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Primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity Report of an unusual case
Author(s) -
Dimitrakopoulos I.,
Lazaridis N.,
Skordalaki A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1834-7819.1998.tb00194.x
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , oral cavity , hard palate , dentistry , oral mucosa , hyperplasia , melanin , pathology , biology , cancer research , genetics
Primary malignant melanoma is only rarely found in the oral cavity (estimated at between 0.2 and 8 per cent of all melanomas) and occurs approximately four times more frequently in the oral mucosa of the upper jaw, usually on the palate or alveolar gingivae. A case is reported of a malignant melanoma in the mouth of a 74 year old male, which was originally diagnosed as reactive denture hyperplasia caused by a ill‐fitting upper denture. Correction of the denture fault failed to stop the growth of the mass, which was therefore removed surgically. Histological examination revealed a melanin‐producing tumour. A partial maxillectomy was performed and there was no evidence of recurrence over a three year follow‐up period.