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.