title: Oral melanoma: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Melanoma of the mouth is rare, most commonly occurring on the upper jaw of patients older than 50 years. Because of a frequent delay in diagnosis, the tumors are often diagnosed after they are deeper than the average cutaneous melanoma. Hence, the prognosis tends to be poor. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, but often it is difficult because of anatomic restraints. Although melanoma is classically not very radiosensitive, occasional patients have had a good response to radiation therapy, sometimes with temporary palliation. Other treatment modalities are similar to those used for cutaneous melanoma. Immunotherapy, including interferon, has been used. Chemotherapy has a low response rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Medical School, Lubbock 79430, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Rapini
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007372:Interferons