Malignant melanoma in the palate of a 3‐month‐old child

Background Malignant mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is a rare cancer in adults that carries a grave prognosis. Three mucosal melanomas in pediatric patients have previously been reported. Methods We present here the youngest case of malignant mucosal melanoma of the head and neck in a 3‐month‐old boy. He presented with a 2 × 2‐mm‐pigmented lesion on the anterior maxillary alveolus. The patient was treated with local excision alone. Results The patient has remained disease free with regular follow‐up for 117 months. Conclusion Based upon this case and the few cases reported in the literature, mucosal melanoma is a much less common disease in children than in adults. Further, juvenile mucosal melanoma displays a benign clinical behavior. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 24: 91–94, 2002.