Pigmentation and Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Oral Mucosa : A Clinical Analysis for Past 13 Years in Our Department(The Current Status and Treatment of Malignant Melanomas)

The therapeutic methods were discussed in 7 patients of the primary malignant melanoma on the oral mucosa, who were treated at Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery II, School of Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, for 13 years, from 1978 to 1991. Then the following conclusions were elucidated by our clinical analysis, including the connection with pigmentation. 1. Primary malignant melanoma on the oral mucosa tended to be detected lately by the existence of dental prosthetic appliances, such as full denture, bridge and etc., because it most likely occured on the maxillary gingiva and hard palate. Therefore the patients become aware of the symptoms lately and, when they visited to our department, the focus has already expanded and metastasized to the other parts frequently. 2. The prodromal symptoms of primary malignant melanoma on the oral mucosa were not even clear by now and it is needed to exercise pursuits on the patients with pigmentation of oral mucosa carefully. 3. Although a wide excision of the peimary focus in soite of the anatomical difficulties was worked out, metastatic diseases, mostly lungs, after 6 through 18 monthes were detected and all the patients were died within 2 years. It is necessary to establish more reliable methods for the prevention or control the postoperative metastasis in the future