Oral malignant melanomas are rare aggressive neoplasms of the middle age which represents about 1.7% to 3% of all the reported melanomas. Melanomas in the oral cavity present as brown or bluish black, exophytic (nodular or papillariform) lesions, although occasionally they may be unpigmented or multiple. In the oral cavity, maxilla is more commonly affected (80%). The poor prognosis of oral malignant melanoma mandates routine biopsy of all the reported pigmented lesions of undetermined origin. Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies should be undertaken to explore any regional metastasis. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. This Article present acase report of malignant melanoma of the oral cavity, where anterior maxillary gingival region was involved without any metastasis to the loco-regional lymph nodes. The patient underwent surgical resection with appropriate neck dissection followed by radiotherapy. The patient was reasonably comfortable during the follow up period of 18 months.
Oral malignant melanoma, melanocytes, surgical resection, neck dissection, pigmented lesions
