Definition
A pigmentation of the oral mucosa as a result of irritating components in tobacco smoke through either stimulation of melanin production or the binding of melanin to noxious substances in the tobacco smoke.
Clinical Features
Incidence
Smoker’s melanosis occurs in 5.0–21.5% of smokers of cigarettes and pipe.
Age
All ages, in smoking people.
Sex
Higher frequency in women, possibly due to a synergistic effect between hormones and smoking.
Site
Maxillary and mandibular alveolar mucosa in cigarette smoking and buccal mucosa and commissures in pipe smoking. Heavy pigmentation of the palate can also be seen in reverse smokers, who smoke with the burning end inside the mouth.
Treatment
No treatment, cessation of smoking.
Outcome
Cessation of smoking will result in disappearance of the pigmentation within 6–36 months.
Microscopy
Microscopy shows an increase of melanin in the basal cell layer of the oral squamous epithelium and collections of incontinent melanin pigmentation within...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
References and Further Reading
Behura, S. S., Masthan, M. K., & Narayanasamy, A. B. (2015). Oral mucosal lesions associated with smokers and chewers. A case control study in Chennai population. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 9, ZC17–ZC22.
Haresaku, S., Hanioka, T., Tsutsui, A., & Watanabe, T. (2007). Association of lip pigmentation with smoking and gingival melanin pigmentation. Oral Diseases, 13, 71–76.
Marakoglu, K. U., Gursoy, K., Toker, H. Q., Demirer, S., Sezer, R. S., & Marakoglu, I. (2007). Smoking status and smoke-related gingival melanin pigmentation in army recruitments. Military Medicine, 172, 110–113.
Mirbod, S. M., & Ahing, S. I. (2000). Tobacco-associated lesions of the oral cavity. Part I. Nonmalignant lesions. Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 66, 252–256.
Taybos, G. (2003). Oral changes associated with tobacco use. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 326, 179–182.
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, Smoker’s. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_787-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_787-1
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