Jornal de Patologia Clínica e Experimental

Abstrato

Oral Malignant Melanoma: A Brief Review

Nambiar S, Vishwanath MN, Bhat S, Farzana F, Khwaja T and Alrani D

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive neoplasm affecting the oral cavity. It has the most biologically unpredictable behavior. The tumors can be locally invasive or metastasize to other parts of the body. Pre-existing pigmentations can evolve into malignant melanomas in about 30% of the cases. Hence, early detection of pigmented lesions of undetermined origin is important and should be routinely biopsied. Surgical management in still considered the first line of treatment of malignant melanoma. The deceiving asymptomatic presentation at early stages, rarity and poor prognosis emphasizes on need for highly specialized treatment. This review on oral malignant melanoma provides insight to a very aggressive neoplasm that can affect the oral cavity, it’s biological nature and behavior, early detection, diagnosis and insight into new treatment modalities.