Definition
Melanocytic nevi of the oral mucosa are benign tumors of melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin and juxtacutaneous mucous membranes, including the oral mucosa. Melanocytic nevi are much less common in the oral mucosa than on the skin (Buchner and Hansen 1987; Buchner et al. 2004; Müller 2010). The intramucosal nevus is the oral counterpart of the cutaneous dermal nevus.
In an intramucosal or subepithelial nevus, the (nests of) nevus cells are located within the underlying connective tissue and are often nonpigmented. They are usually small, 4–6 mm in greatest diameter, well-circumscribed macules or slightly raised papules.
Clinical Features
Incidence
Intramucosal nevi are the most common subtype (60–80%) of nevi.
Age
The age ranges from 3 to 87 years with a mean age for intramucosal nevi of 38 years.
Sex
A female preference has been reported (female to male ratio 1.5:1).
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The hard...
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References and Further Reading
Buchner, A., & Hansen, L. S. (1987). Pigmented nevi of the oral mucosa: A clinicopathologic study of 36 new cases and review of 155 cases from the literature. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology, 63, 676–682.
Buchner, A., Merrell, P. W., & Carpenter, W. M. (2004). Relative frequency of solitary melanocytic lesions of the oral mucosa. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine, 33, 550–557.
Gazit, D., & Daniels, T. E. (1994). Oral melanocytic lesions: Differences in expression of HMB-45 and S-100 antigens in round and spindle cells of malignant and benign lesions. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine, 23, 60–64.
Meleti, M., Mooi, W. J., Casparie, M. K., & van der Waal, I. (2007). Melanocytic nevi of the oral mucosa – No evidence of increased risk for oral malignant melanoma: an analysis of 119 cases. Oral Oncology, 43, 976–981.
Müller, S. (2010). Melanin-associated pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa: Presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Dermatologic Therapy, 23, 220–229.
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van der Wal, J.E. (2018). Nevi, Intramucosal. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_744-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_744-1
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