How is oral melanoma treated?
Wide excision is the treatment of choice. Oral melanoma is complicated in that detection does not usually occur until the lesion is advanced. Overall 5-year survival is low, which highlights the need for aggressive treatment and continued follow-up afterward.
Is oral melanoma deadly?
Prognosis of oral melanoma is extremely poor and is also most deadly in comparison to other organ neoplasms [8], as well as vascular or lymphatic invasion that facilitates spreading of melanoma to other sites is a more important prognostic factor [2].
Is oral malignant melanoma cancer?
Primary malignant melanoma of the oral cavity is a rare neoplasm. The tumors tend to metastasize or locally invade tissue more readily than other malignant tumors in the oral region. The survival of patients with mucosal melanomas is less than for those with cutaneous melanomas.
How common is oral malignant melanoma?
Oral malignant melanomas are extremely rare lesions, accounting for approximately 2% of all melanomas with only a few reported cases in literature.
Can mucosal melanoma be cured?
The only curative treatment for mucosal melanoma is surgical resection. Complete surgical resection of mucosal melanoma with negative pathological margins is associated with a better prognosis [20,34] but there is no evidence that radical resection improves survival [35–38].
How do you stage mucosal melanoma?
This clinical staging system is as follows:
- Stage 1: The disease remains localized.
- Stage 2: Nodes in the region or area around the disease become involved.
- Stage 3: The disease becomes metastatic and involves distant areas and organs.
What do you need to know about oral melanoma?
A thorough medical history and a complete physical exam by a physician are crucial for the diagnosis of Oral Malignant Melanoma. This is followed by some tests which include: Biopsy of lesions: The sampling of cells, to observe them under a microscope for signs of cancer
Are there any targeted therapies for mucosal melanoma?
Studies are on currently to develop targeted therapies that focus on the KIT gene mutation, commonly seen in mucosal melanoma. One such drug, called imatinib mesylate, blocks the activity of KIT and has proven to be effective in treatment of the condition. What are some Useful Resources for Additional Information?
Is there a ratio between oral and cutaneous melanoma?
A male predilection exists, with a male-to-female ratio of almost 2:1. Oral melanoma is diagnosed approximately a decade earlier in males than in females. This ratio is contrasted with the roughly equal sex distribution of cutaneous melanoma. In Japan, data suggest an equal or slight male predilection.
What are the staging steps for oral melanoma?
Staging for OMM (Table 1) should include blood work (complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile), urinalysis, assessment of regional lymph nodes, and imaging of the thoracic cavity. Submandibular lymph nodes are the only palpable regional lymph nodes. Both ipsilateral and contralateral nodes should be aspirated regardless of size.
What is melanoma and how is it treated?
Today, melanoma is treated by surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Melanoma is more common in areas that are mostly Caucasian .
What is the optimal treatment of advanced melanoma?
In most cases, treatment can’t cure advanced melanoma. But some can help you live longer and feel better. The goal of any therapy you get will be to shrink or remove your tumor, keep the cancer from spreading further, and ease your symptoms. Surgery . This is the main way to remove melanoma from the skin and lymph nodes.
Which doctors treat melanoma?
People with melanoma are often treated by a team of specialists. The team may include a dermatologist, surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and plastic surgeon. Before starting melanoma treatment, the patient might want a second opinion about the diagnosis and the treatment plan.
What is the best treatment for oral cancer?
The best treatment options for oral cancer depend on many factors, including the location of the tumor, the stage of the disease, and general health. Unlike many cancers, the mainstay of therapy can be surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, and both chemotherapy and radiation may be used with a curative approach.
