1989 Volume 35 Issue 7 Pages 1886-1889
A pigmented nevus is defined as a harnartomatous proliferation of the melaninproducing cells (nevus cells). It is a relatively rare disease, especially in the oral mucosa. In this report, the authors present a case of a pigmented nevus of the gingiva, and review 18 cases of pigmented nevus in the region of mucous membrane or lip as previously reported in Japanese medical literature.
The patient, a 63-year-old woman, was referred by her dentist complaining of denture instability due to swelling of the gingiva. About six months ago, she first noted the swelling on the left mandibular gingiva, in the area of the cuspid. The swelling gradually enlarged. At the time of oral examination, a well-defined pigmented swelling about the size of a red bean was noticed.
Having been clinically diagnosed as fibroma, the lesion was surgically excised with little difficulty.
A histopathological study revealed it to be an intramucosal pigmented nevus.
Postoperative healing was uneventful and there has been no evidence of recurrence after a lapse of 1 year and 8 months.
