In Situ Melanoma of the Gingiva Associated with Dense Inflammation and Pigment Deposition: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall in Evaluating Stromal Invasion

• Published in: Head & neck pathology (Totowa, N.J.) Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 547 - 551
• Main Authors: Sedassari, Bruno Tavares, Lascane, Nelise Alexandre da Silva, de Freitas, André Luis Santana, Mautoni, Mário Cláudio, Sotto, Mirian Nacagami, Gallottini, Marina Helena Cury, de Sousa, Suzana Cantanhede Orsini Machado, Pinto, Décio dos Santos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-12-2016
• Subjects: Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Case Report; Dentistry; Female; Gingival Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation - pathology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Melanoma - pathology; Middle Aged; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Otorhinolaryngology; Pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Mucosal melanoma; Oral mucosa; Skin tumors
• ISSN: 1936-055X; 1936-0568
• DOI: 10.1007/s12105-016-0728-3

Melanoma is a highly aggressive neoplasm in which the neoplastic cells display melanocytic differentiation. Less than 1 % of all melanomas arise in the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity, with purely in situ lesions being exceedingly rare tumors, but with a favorable prognosis compared with invasive lesions. We describe the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in an uncommon case of in situ mucosal melanoma of the oral cavity with intense tumor-associated pigment deposition and inflammation complicating the morphological assessment of infiltrative areas.