Primary oral mucosal melanoma is a rare aggressive neoplasm and accounts for only 0.2-8% of all reported melanomas. It is a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes that may arise from a benign melanocytic lesion or de novo from melanocytes within normal skin or mucosa. It is considered to be the most deadly of all human neoplasms and occurs commonly in the maxillary gingiva, more frequently on the palate, and with fewer incidences in the mandibular gingiva. Though these lesions are biologically aggressive, they often go unnoticed since they are clinically asymptomatic in the early stages and usually present merely as a hyper-pigmented patch on the gingival surface. These lesions if diagnosed at an early in situ stage definitely have a better prognosis, but unfortunately, as they are clinically asymptomatic, diagnosis is often delayed, thus making the prognosis extremely poor. This poster presents a patient who visited with the complaint of swelling in the right maxilla for one year with darkened patches on the gums. Initially asymptomatic, but pain had gradually progressed. Histopathologic investigation confirmed the diagnosis as 'Oral Mucosal Melanoma'. The patient underwent wide local excision of the lesion with hemi-maxillectomy and modified radical neck dissection under GA. Post-operative healing was satisfactory. Diagnosis must be based on a thorough detailed history and valid histologic evidence.
Keywords: Melanoma, oral melanoma, prognostic factors
