Malignant neoplasms of the hard palate and upper alveolar ridge

Malignant neoplasms of the hard palate and upper alveolar ridge can arise from the epithelial (mucosal), salivary, hematopoietic, or mesenchymal tissues in this region. Unlike other regions in the head and neck, only about two thirds of malignant neoplasms of the hard palate are squamous cell carcinomas, and few large series have reported treatment protocols and outcomes for patients with these tumors. In this review, we will describe our series of 51 patients with malignant neoplasms of the hard palate and upper alveolar ridge. This review will emphasize the surgical treatment program and rehabilitative techniques developed at the University of Pittsburgh.