Common Lip Diseases: A Clinical Guide

Labial Pigmented Lesions

Author(s): Martina Salvatorina Murgia*, Germano Orrù* and Cinzia Casu * .

Pp: 110-123 (14)

DOI: 10.2174/9789815238631124010008

* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

The diagnosis of oral mucosal pigmentations is complex, and histopathological evaluation may be necessary to clarify the nature of the lesion. Although most oral pigmented lesions are benign, it must be emphasized that melanoma of the oral cavity, probably the most aggressive epithelial tumor, is often underestimated and diagnosed late. The dentist, therefore, should have basic knowledge of the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics of this large group of lesions. Pigmented lesions associated with melanin include racial pigmentations, melanotic macules, smoking-associated melanosis, melanocytic nevi, melanoacanthoma, and melanoma. Some systemic diseases (for example, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and Laugier-Hunziker syndrome) are also characterized by the presence of melanin lesions in the oral mucosa. In the literature, there are also some cases of pigmentation caused by melanin in association with the intake of drugs and as a consequence of some postinflammatory mechanisms. Pigmented lesions not associated with melanin are subdivided according to the nature of the pigment responsible for the discoloration. The pigmentations caused by the deposition of exogenous pigments are represented by some metals (for example, amalgam, tattoo), drugs, or their metabolites.


Keywords: Melanotic macules, Nevus, Pigmented lesions, Racial pigmentations, Smoker’s melanosis.

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