A primary oral mucosal melanoma of the hard palate with no recurrence: Report of a 10 years follow-up

BackgroundPrimary oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) represents an extremely rare and aggressive tumor that arises from malignant transformation and clonal expansion of melanocytes in the oral cavity. The prognosis of patients affected by OMM is quite unfavorable, with survival rates lower than those described for patients with cutaneous melanoma.Case reportHere, we report a case of OMM in a 59-year-old Caucasian woman, who was referred for evaluation of a large asymptomatic pigmented lesion on the left side of the hard palate under the removable total denture. Incisional biopsy was performed, and histopathological analysis revealed the proliferation of spindle-shaped and pigmented epithelioid cells, with cellular pleomorphism. These cells were positive for Melan A, S-100, HMB-45, SOX-10, and Ki-67 confirming the diagnosis of OMM. The patient underwent partial maxillectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. After treatment, she was rehabilitated with a palatal obturator prosthesis and has been in follow-up for 10 years with no evidence of disease. Due to the rarity in the oral cavity and the nonspecific signs and symptoms, the diagnosis of OMM is difficult and often overlooked.ConclusionTherefore, multidisciplinary management from diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation is important to increase the expectation of cure.