Oral mucosal melanoma: Retrospective study of a series of cases and a review of the literature

Background:Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is relatively rare, runs an aggressive course, affects most frequently the hard palate and the maxillary gingiva, and may be multifocal. The aetiological factors and the chain of molecular events that give rise to OMM and to its growth and metastasis are largely unknown.Objectives:The purpose of this retrospective study was to characterize some clinical and histopathological features of OMM in a South African sample.Materials and Methods:The histopathological reports and histological sections of 17 cases with OMM during the period 1968–2013 were retrospectively evaluated, and the data regarding age, gender, ethnicity/race and the histopathological patterns were recorded. c-Kit immunohistochemical staining was performed.Results:OMM most frequently affected the palate and the maxillary gingiva of black persons without gender predilection. The age of the patients ranged from 20 to 78 years with the mean age at diagnosis being 56 years. Most tumours were nodular comprisi...