ETIOLOGY
unknown, but tobacco use chronic irritation, formaldehyde exposure, familial history, and cytogenetic defects may play some role in its development
METHOD OF TRANSMISSION
N/A
CHARACTERISTICS
hard palate and maxillary gingiva. The melanoma is usually a brown, red, black, and even black-bluish color and may be slightly raised, with irregular borders.
DENTAL IMPLICATIONS
deadly lesion that should be recognized and removed in its earliest stage.
TREATMENT/PROGNOSIS
Excision of the oral melanoma is the course of action, with wide surgical margins because recurrence is common.