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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

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Whole-Mount Staining, Visualization, and Analysis of Fungiform, Circumvallate, and Palate Taste Buds
Published on: February 11, 2021
[A man with a lesion on the palate]
Jeroen P Muller Kobold1, Eelco S Nijdam
1Medisch Spectrum Twente, afd. Chirurgie, Enschede, the Netherlands. j.muller-kobold@mst.nl
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|April 21, 2011
Summary
A dark lesion on the palate was diagnosed as melanoma in a 77-year-old man. Surgical removal of the palate was necessary to treat this oral cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oral pathology
- Oncology
- Surgical oncology
Background:
- Melanoma, a rare malignancy, can occur in the oral cavity.
- Early detection of oral melanoma is crucial for patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A 77-year-old male presented with a dark lesion on the palate, discovered during a denture fitting.
- The patient reported no symptoms other than discomfort from ill-fitting dentures.
Findings:
- Biopsy examination confirmed the palatal lesion to be melanoma.
- Surgical excision of the affected palate was performed.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of thorough oral examinations, even in asymptomatic individuals.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical management are vital for treating oral melanoma.
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