85 y/o male presents with black spot on hard palate. What's the diagnosis?

Patient is demented. Can't provide additional history but family states that they noted this black spot in the patient's mouth recently. "He's always wearing his dentures, even to sleep. Does this have anything to do with it?"



Biopsy is in order to evaluate for possible oral melanoma. The mouth is a rare location for melanoma and accounts for < 1% of this cancer. While cutaneous melanomas are linked to sun exposure, risk factors for mucosal melanomas are unknown.


Source

Collins, B. DDS. "Oral Malignant Melanoma" eMedicine. 21 March 2008.

Image source: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/141/case_presentations/oralmm/1.jpg