Malignant melanoma of the lip spreading in a pagetoid manner into the minor salivary glands

We describe a malignant melanoma of the lower lip that upon recurrence extended in a pagetoid manner into the ducts of the oral minor salivary glands. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies to MART-1 and HMB-45 confirmed that the atypical cells in the ducts of the salivary glands were indeed melanoma cells. Pathologists involved in staging of oral melanoma are urged to look out for this previously unreported mode of spread of labial malignant melanoma. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;94:341-4)