Primary gingival malignant melanoma. Report of 3 cases.

BACKGROUND

Malignant melanoma is rare in the oral cavity and accounts for less than 1% of all melanomas. Nevertheless, the disease can be fatal, and early diagnosis and treatment may improve prognosis dramatically. The purpose of this paper is to report 3 new cases of primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity arising in the gingiva, and to review the literature regarding intraoral melanoma.

METHODS

Three cases are presented. One case was in the right mandibular molar area; the second in the right maxillary canine-premolar area; and the third in the left mandibular canine-premolar region. All patients were treated surgically, with postoperative radiotherapy.

RESULTS

The first patient lived for 2 years and the second for 3 years before distant metastases were diagnosed from which they subsequently died. The third patient was lost from follow-up after 18 months.

CONCLUSION

Primary oral malignant melanoma is a deadly disease. Early suspicion of this disease will allow prompt treatment and increase the prognosis for these patients.