title: Oral malignant melanoma: A report of two cases with BRAF molecular analysis.
abstract: Primary oral malignant melanoma is a rare condition, accounting for 1.3-1.4% of all melanomas, usually presenting with an aggressive clinical behavior. The present study reports the clinicopathological findings of two cases of oral malignant melanoma and discusses the epidemiology, diagnosis and current therapeutic approaches for this uncommon condition. In the first case the patient presented with a pigmented lesion located on the lower mucosal lip. The patient showed no nodal metastases and therefore, underwent a wedge resection. After seven months, the patient presented with neck lymph nodes and multiple visceral metastases. Molecular analysis of BRAF, using a pyrosequencing approach, revealed the presence of BRAF V600E mutation. The patient developed multiple visceral metastases, but refused treatment and was lost to follow-up. In the second case, no BRAF V600E mutation was found, but the patient exhibited a pigmented patch in the lower gingival mucosa, which was excised by surgical treatment. The patient was followed up by an oncologist, but did not undergo an additional therapy and is currently alive with no evidence of visceral metastases at one year following the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Burns Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania 95126, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Francesco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania 95126, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pettinato
authors.affiliation: Dental Institute, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania 95126, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Agnone
authors.affiliation: Unit of Plastic Surgery, Vittorio Emanuele II Hospital, Castelvetrano (TP) 91022, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Research and Advanced Diagnostics, IRCCS-CROB, Rionero in Vulture (PZ) 85028, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Improta
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania 95126, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fraggetta
keywords: BRAF mutations; oral malignant melanoma; therapeutic approaches