Oral malignant melanoma diagnosed in an Iranian population over an 11-year period

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral malignant melanoma along with age range and site of presentation over an 11-year period in Iran. Materials and methods: The files of Tehran Cancer Institute served as a source of material for this study. Files were systematically searched for all malignant melanomas and oral malignant melanomas during an 11-year period. Prepared slides and demographic data from the biopsy files were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of SPSS. Results: Of the 38,993 cases accessed during the 11-year period, 569 were identified as malignant melanomas, while 41 cases among this group had malignant oral melanomas comprising 0.1% of the total cases and 7.2% of all the malignant melanoma lesions. Conclusion: The palate was the most common location for oral malignant melanoma. Thus, all melanocytic lesions in the palate should be viewed with caution, and biopsy is recommended to rule out melanoma. © Springer-Verlag 2008.