Extensive Oral Melanoma on the hard palate
case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35699/2178-1990.2025.59764Keywords:
Hard palate, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Melanoma, Mouth NeoplasmsAbstract
Aim: Oral mucosa melanoma (OMM) is a rare malignant neoplasm with aggressive behavior. This report aims to present a case of a large OMM on the hard palate.
Methods: A 54-year-old Caucasian man attended the Program of Specific Care for Stomatological Diseases of the Federal University of Uberlândia, referred by a general dentist for evaluation of a lesion on the palate. On oral examination, a focal black pigmentation with red areas was observed in the median region of the hard palate. The diagnostic hypothesis was OMM. Upon incisional biopsy, microscopic assessment of the tissue fragment revealed features compatible with OMM. After diagnostic confirmation, the patient was referred to the head and neck surgery service of the local cancer center, where sessions of radiotherapy and brachytherapy were performed.
Results: Although the medical team found an apparent complete radiological response and no cervical lymphadenopathy after treatment, the disease recurred within one year and the patient presented with a poor prognosis.
Conclusion: Systematic clinical examinations of the oral cavity for the detection of asymptomatic and isolated pigmentations are necessary since early diagnosis is essential to increase the chances of curing this aggressive malignancy.
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