Synonyms
Definition
Melanosis is a clinical term, which can be applied to any melanin-containing lesion. In the oral mucosa it refers to a flat or slightly raised focal (melanotic macule) or diffuse/multifocal area of increased production and deposition of melanin within the basal cell layer of the oral epithelium, the lamina propria, or both (Fig. 1). Endocrine disturbance, smoker’s melanosis, drugs (antimalarial therapy), postinflammatory and some syndromes (Peutz-Jeghers, Addison’s disease, McCune-Albright), and racial pigmentation are known etiologic factors for oral melanin pigmentation (Buchner et al. 1991; Meleti et al. 2008; Müller 2010).
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
References and Further Reading
Buchner, A., Merrell, P. W., Hansen, L. S., & Leider, A. S. (1991). Melanocytic hyperplasia of the oral mucosa. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology, 71, 58–62.
Esen, E., Haytac, M. C., Öz, A., Erdoğan, Ö., & Karsli, E. D. (2004). Gingival melanin pigmentation ant its treatment with the CO2 laser. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics, 98, 522–527.
Meleti, M., Vescovi, P., Mooi, W. J., & van der Waal, I. (2008). Pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa and perioral tissues: A flow-chart for the diagnosis and some recommendations for the management. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics, 105, 606–616.
Müller, S. (2010). Melanin-associated pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa: Presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Dermatologic Therapy, 23, 220–229.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
van der Wal, J.E. (2018). Melanosis. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_739-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_739-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1
eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine