Primary amelanotic malignant melanoma of parotid and submandibular salivary gland: A rare case report

Primary amelanotic malignant melanomas (AMMs) of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands are extremely rare with only a few reported cases due to its low incidence and misdiagnosis. Malignant melanoma (MM) has a high predilection for the head-and-neck region and majority of the cases in the parotid gland reported as association with metastasis in and around the gland from a cutaneous primary tumor. Immunohistochemistry is solely needed for confirmation of diagnosis and MMs give positive reactivity for melan-A, HMB-45, and S–100. Prognosis for AMM in the mucosal or salivary gland regions is much poorer than cutaneous regions because of anatomic considerations and its delayed diagnosis. The treatment of choice is radical surgery and parotidectomy along with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.