References
Malignant oral melanoma: how to spot it and how it is managed
From Volume 45, Issue 7, July 2018 | Pages 660-664
Article
Primary oral melanoma (POM) is an uncommon malignant neoplasm that presents predominantly on the hard palate and the maxillary alveolar mucosa.1,2 It is comprised of malignant melanocytes, which are cells derived from the neural crest that form the melanin pigment in the basal layer of the epithelium.1,2,3 It is most commonly seen in middle-aged patients and the lack of early signs and symptoms usually results in oral mucosal melanoma being diagnosed in the advanced stages.1,2,3,4 The 5–year survival rate has been quoted at around 15–38%.1 Unlike its cutaneous counterpart, oral melanomas are not linked to UV exposure.1,2 Smoking, denture-related irritation and alcohol have been linked to oral melanoma but the correlation is still unconfirmed.1
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