CLINICAL CASES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2003 February;138(1):37-9

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity. Report of case submitted to sentinel lymph node biopsy

Cecchi R. ¹, Paoli S. ¹, Giomi A. ¹, De Gaudio C. ²

¹ U.O. di Dermatologia Ospedale di Pistoia, Pistoia 2 U.O. di Medicina Nucleare Ospedale di Lucca, Lucca

Primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity is an uncommon tumour, accounting for 0.2-8% of all melanomas. Most cases occur on the palate or upper alveolar gingiva, in the fourth through seventh decade of live, with a slightly higher incidence in males. A case of malignant melanoma of the oral cavity in a 76-year-old male is reported. A 4 mm amelanotic nodule with an adjacent pigmented macular lesion had been developing on his hard palate. The nodular lesion had been partially excised elsewhere, and histological examination had shown an invasive amelanotic melanoma. The patient underwent a wide surgical resection of the residual lesion and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Oral melanomas have a poorer prognosis, when compared to cutaneous melanomas, and this is mainly attributable to delayed detection and treatment. The oral cavity should be carefully controlled during the patient self-examination of the skin.