Oral mucosal melanoma: a series of case reports.
BACKGROUND
Due to the rarity of oral malignant melanomas case reports are a necessary source of information. Ten new cases are reported with a minimum follow-up of 3 years.


METHODS
Patients were treated during a period of 10 years. Clinical, demographic and pathologic findings were examined.


RESULTS
In 6 males (60%) and 4 females with a mean age of 64.3 years the tumour locations were: hard palate-maxillary gingiva (3 cases), maxillary gingiva (2), lower gingiva (2), tongue (2), hard/soft palate-buccal mucosa (1). Pre-existing melanotic pigmentation had been present in 4 patients. Four patients were in stage I, 5 in stage II, and 1 in stage III. Surgical excision was the primary treatment in 9 cases. Five patients underwent simultaneous neck dissections. All patients received radiation and multimode adjuvant therapies. After a 3-year follow-up 3 patients are still alive (50% (2/4) of those presenting in stage I and 20% (1/5) in stage II).


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the rarity of oral melanoma, individual experience is limited. The poor prognosis and the different treatments reflect this situation.
Garzino-Demo
Paolo
P
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Turin, Italy. paologrz@tiscaline.it
Fasolis
Massimo
M
Maggiore
Gian Marco La Terra
GM
Pagano
Marco
M
Berrone
Sid
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery