Abstract
Nevocellular nevi (pigmented nevi) are less common in the oral cavity than on the skin. Most reported cases are lesions within 10 mm in diameter, and few are over 40mm.
This article reports a case of nevocellular nevus occurring on the hard palate. In addition, 31 cases of pigmented nevi reported in the Japanese literature are reviewed.
The patient was a 42-year-old man. Swelling and a pigmented lesion ware first noted by a dentist in November 1990, but he refused further treatment because there was no pain. In August 1994, he was referred to our clinic for prosthetic treatment. The swelling was a domelike, dark-red pigmented mass occupying the left half of the hard palate. The size of this lesion was 45×38mm. There was no bleeding or ulceration.
Under the clinical diagnosis of a benign tumor of the salivary gland, surgical excision was performed under general anesthesia. No resorption of the bone adjacent to the hard palate as evident.
Histopathological examination revealed the lesion to be a nevocellular nevus, intradermal type. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there has been no evidence of recurrence as of 2 years after surgery.
