1998 Volume 44 Issue 9 Pages 756-758
Lentigo maligna, which often transforms into malignant melanoma, is rare in the oral cavity. A case of lentigo maligna in the oral mucosa is presented. A 50-year-old woman visited our clinic with a complaint of pigmented spots in the maxillary buccal gingiva and palate. Clinically, we suspected malignant melanoma; however, examination of a biopsy specimen revealed lentigo maligna. After radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the lesion was resected under general anesthesia. Histological examination showed that melanocytes with cellular atypia had proliferated in the basal layers and had scattered intraepithelially. Positive staining for S-100 and Dopa was observed, but no staining for HMB-45 was observed. Electron microscopic examination revealed many high-stage melanosomes. Two years two months have passed since initial presentation, and there has been no evidence of recurrence.
