[Melanoma of the oral mucosa].
BACKGROUND
The oral melanoma (OM) account for 1% of all melanomas. The prognosis is poor despite an adequate locoregional control of the disease.


METHODS
A 45-year-old woman presented with submandibular lymph nodes, having metastised from a melanoma. Oral cavity examination revealed a pigmented lesion of the gingiva in front of tooth 12, with satellite spots. Surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy failed and the patient died 16 months after diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral melanomas have a poor prognosis probably because they are generally detected late. The most common sites for oral melanomas are the palate and maxillary gingiva. About 30% of OM is preceded by areas of oral pigmentation for several months or years. The prognosis is poor with a 5% to 20% five-year survival rate.
Magremanne
M
M
Service de stomatologie et chirurgie maxillo-faciale, CIU, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, université Libre de Bruxelles, 2, boulevard Kennedy, 7000 Mons, Belgique. michele.magremann@ulb.be
Vervaet
C
C
D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology