Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

The 5-year survival rate for intraoral malignant melanoma is indeed around 20%. This statistic reflects the overall prognosis for patients diagnosed with this type of cancer, which tends to be more aggressive compared to skin melanoma. Several factors contribute to this lower survival rate, including the difficulty of early detection within the oral cavity and the tendency for intraoral melanomas to present at a more advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.

The aggressive nature of intraoral malignant melanoma, combined with its less accessible location for physician examination, makes initial diagnosis challenging. This results in a higher likelihood of metastatic spread by the time treatment begins, further compounding the negative impact on survival rates.

In contrast, other options pertain to misconceptions or incorrect statements regarding the nature of intraoral malignant melanoma. The palate is, in fact, one of the more commonly affected sites for this condition, contrary to the first choice. Additionally, the notion that biopsies should be avoided due to potential metastasis is misleading, as diagnosis typically necessitates a biopsy to confirm the type and extent of cancer present. Lastly, the incidence of intraoral melanoma differs from that of skin melanoma, making the comparison between these two types misleading.