Oral Melanoma Site — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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HardOral PathologyOral Melanoma SiteMFDS Part 1

In primary oral mucosal melanoma, which pair comprises the two most frequently involved intraoral sites?

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Correct answer: D — Hard palate and gingiva

The correct answer is D. Oral mucosal melanoma has a marked predilection for the hard palate and gingiva, particularly the maxillary region. In a systematic review of 2,230 cases, the hard palate was the commonest site and the gingiva was second. The floor of mouth and ventrolateral tongue are important high-risk sites for oral squamous cell carcinoma but are not the characteristic distribution of melanoma. Buccal or labial mucosa, tongue, retromolar mucosa, soft palate and faucial pillars can be affected, but substantially less often. Oral mucosal melanoma commonly presents at an advanced stage and consequently has a poor prognosis.

Reference: Thuaire A et al. Oral mucosal melanoma - A systematic review. Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2022;123(5):e425-e432. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35134590/