Primary malignant melanoma arising from the base of the tongue

A rare case of malignant melanoma of the base of the tongue in a 65-year-oi d Japanese woman is described. The primary and metastatic tumors were treat ed by surgery, chemohormone and immunotherapy. There was no recurrence for 5 years after the initial diagnosis, Electron microscopy suggested that the melanosomes of the melanoma cells in the cervical lymph nodes were less ma ture than those in the primary melanoma cells; melanosome immaturity was co nsistent with a more aggressive quality. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG,Ba sel.