Melanoma of the Oral Cavity: About Two Cases and Review of Literature

F Elomrani,S Lkhoyali,M Elkabous,H Mrabti,S Boutayeb,H Errihani,R Khmamouch,H Mouzount,A Boukir,B Elkhannoussi,I Ouziane

doi:10.4236/ijcm.2013.44033

F Elomrani, S Lkhoyali + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ijcm.2013.44033

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Abstract

Mucosal malignant melanoma of the oral cavity is an extremely rare condition. It has a poor prognosis. Here we report two typical cases of malignant melanoma. In the first case, 64 years old man developed an exophytic tumor in the hard palate. Head and neck and chest computerized tomography scan showed a large aggressive tumor of the hard palate. The patient also had multiple lung metastases and a cervical lymph node. The second case is a 73 years old woman presenting a burgeoning mass on the right palate. Facial CT reveals a malignant tumor lateralized in the right palate with ipsilateral metastatic lymph nodes. Histological with immunohistochemical studies assigned both cases to a malignant melanoma. Due to the rarity of oral malignant melanomas, case reports are a necessary source of information.

Highlights

Melanoma of the oral cavity (MOC) is a rare malignant disease, which present only 2% to 8% of all melanomas [1]
Facial computerized tomography (CT) reveals a malignant tumor lateralized in the right palate with ipsilateral metastatic lymph nodes
Due to the rarity of oral malignant melanomas, case reports are a necessary source of information

Summary

Introduction

Melanoma of the oral cavity (MOC) is a rare malignant disease, which present only 2% to 8% of all melanomas [1]. MOC is often discovered in an advanced stage, they had a poor prognosis. Metastatic melanoma most frequently affects the mandible, tongue, and buccal mucosa [1]. The relative rarity of mucosal melanomas has dictated that tumor staging should be based on the broader experience with cutaneous melanoma. Oral melanomas seem uniformly more aggressive; they spread and metastasize more rapidly than other oral cancers or cutaneous melanomas [1]. Recognition and treatment greatly improves the prognosis. Oral mucosal melanomas have by far the worst prognosis and an average of 5 years survival [2]. We report 2 cases of oral malignant melanoma

Case Presentation 1

Case Presentation 2

Discussion

Findings

Conclusion