Primary amelanotic melanoma of the mandibulargingiva

ABSTRACT

Oral mucosal melanoma is a very rare type of malignant melanoma, the characteristics of whichdiffer from those of cutaneous melanoma. Primary amelanotic melanoma of the mandibular gingiva,which can invade the mandibular bone, is very rare worldwide. Here, we report a case in whichwe performed a reconstruction of the mandible and gingiva using the fibula osteocutaneous freeflap procedure to treat a patient diagnosed with a primary amelanotic melanoma of the mandibulargingiva. The procedure was successful, and no recurrence was observed 10 months after surgery.Oral mucosal melanoma has a much poorer prognosis and a lower 5-year survival rate thancutaneous melanoma. However, recently, immunomodulatory therapies for mutations in melanocyticlesions have been used effectively to treat the increasing number of patients developing thistype of melanoma, thus improving the prognosis of patients with oral mucosal melanoma.