title: A case of oral mucosal melanoma. Clinical and dermoscopic correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most patients with oral mucosal melanoma have had a mucosal hyper pigmented area for months or even years before the diagnosis, it is important to consider the differential diagnosis of mucosal melanoma, which in many cases is a difficult diagnosis and because of the aggressive biological behavior of mucosal melanoma it is important to do a quick diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 40-year-old Mexican male patient, presented with a lesion on the lower right half of the lip covering almost the entire vermillion border, 1 mm below the white roll. The lesion was a 1.5 x 4 cm pigmented macule with asymmetric and irregular borders and colors. Dermoscopy showed a multi component pattern. An incision biopsy was performed under the impression of mucosal melanoma. The pathologic report described a Clark I vermillion edge mucosal melanoma in situ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case had confounding clinical signs that could have misguided the clinician. But dermoscopy proved to be useful when suspecting a malignant lesion, which prompted a biopsy and a correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Division, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hajar-Serviansky
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Mendoza
authors.forename: Iris Lavinia
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Galvan
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lammoglia-Ordiales
authors.forename: Adalberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosqueda-Taylor
authors.forename: Maria de Lourdes
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Cázares
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toussaint-Caire