Etiology: unknown, tobacco use, chronic irritation, formaldehyde exposure, familial history, and cytogenetic defects; germline mutation; pigmented area usually in palate or maxillary gingiva, precedes most oral melanomas
Transmission: none
Epidemiology: accounts for approx. 0.02 to 8% and 5% of all oral malignancies; occur in 40s with average age 56; rare in children and young adults; more often in males;
Pathogenesis: sunlight, enviromnent and genetic factors
Characteristics: commonly on hard palate and maxillary gingiva; brown, red, black, black-bluish, slightly raised, irregular borders, rapid growth pattern, exophytic or ulcerative; colors may be mised, depending on stage; asymmetry and irregular borders;