title: Blue-black macule on the maxillary palate.
abstract: A cellular blue nevus located on the palate of a 72-year-old female is reported. This intraoral finding is uncommon and should be distinguished from clinical entities it closely resembles. Practitioners should be aware that a pigmented palatal lesion in fact may be a malignant melanoma. Surgical excision with microscopic examination is the only means by which an accurate diagnosis can be made.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Mantich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*