Metastatic malignant melanoma of the tongue

The tongue is an unusual site for metastases of cutaneous malignant melanoma. A review of the literature revealed only 16 such cases. The discovery of metastases in the tongue usually indicates widespread dissemination of the melanoma and a terminal phase of the disease. Two patients with metastatic malignant melanoma of the tongue are presented. The primary tumors were excised 10 and four years respectively prior to the discovery of the lingual metastases. In one of the patients the lingual metastasis was the first evidence of a disseminated stage of the disease. The histopathological differentiation between primary and secondary melanoma of the tongue is discussed. Such differentiation may have an important therapeutic implication.