What is mucosal nevus?
Nevus (mole or birthmark) is a benign tumour of skin and mucosa characterised by the presence of melanin-producing, neuroectodermally derived cells, which can be light to dark brown, reddish brown, blue or flesh coloured. It varies in shape from oval to round.
Is a melanocytic nevus cancer?
Melanocytic nevi are benign neoplasms or hamartomas composed of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells that constitutively colonize the epidermis.
What causes oral Melanoacanthoma?
The cause of melanoacanthoma is unknown, but most instances appear to represent a benign neoplasm. Irritation or trauma to the skin may cause some cutaneous melanoacanthomas, especially on the lips. Trauma and irritation of the oral mucosa are believed to cause oral melanoacanthoma.
How is oral mucosal Melanosis treated?
As long as the oral melanotic macule stays stable in size, shape, and color, no treatment is needed. Nonetheless, some people want the lesion removed for cosmetic reasons. If it is appropriate, some physicians might recommend excision or, rarely, laser treatment.
Do oral nevus go away?
Reports mainly based on case reports and case series have shown that the prognosis for oral melanocytic nevi is excellent. Only one case of recurrence, in a compound nevus, has been reported. No documented cases of malignant transformation were reported in a cohort of intraoral nevi with up to 2-8 years of follow-up.
What is another name for a nevus?
Nevus (plural: nevi) is the medical term for a mole.
What is oral Melanotic Macule?
The oral melanotic macule (MM) is a small, well-circumscribed brown-to-black macule that occurs on the lips and mucous membranes. The etiology is not clear and it may represent a physiologic or reactive process. The average age of presentation is 43 years, with a female predilection.
Why is the roof of my mouth brown?
The mouth may have dark blue or black areas due to silver amalgam from a dental filling, graphite from falling with a pencil in the mouth, or a mole. Heavy cigarette smoking can lead to dark brown or black discoloration (usually of the gums) called smoker’s melanosis. Brown areas in the mouth can be hereditary.
What causes mucosal Melanosis?
Smoker’s melanosis is a common, benign, reactive condition resulting in increased pigmentation of the oral mucosa from cigarette or pipe smoking. This process is thought to be a result of either the noxious chemicals in cigarette smoke or heat stimulating melanocytes to protectively produce melanin [2, 5, 7, 44].