Oral Melanoacanthoma Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Talib Najjar, DMD, MDS, PhD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 23, 2012
 

History

Because the lesions of oral melanoacanthoma are not painful, physicians usually discover them on routine oral examination.

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Physical

The clinical features of oral melanoacanthoma may mimic those of other pigmented lesions. For example, the clinical and histologic features of oral melanoacanthoma lesions can resemble those of melanoma in situ.

Cutaneous lesions are as follows:

  • Cutaneous lesions are reported in the scalp, eyelid, ear, nose, neck, thorax, and abdomen.
  • Cutaneous lesions may be found on any area of the head and neck, as well as on the chest, abdomen, back, or legs.
  • The lesions are generally asymptomatic, flat or slightly raised hyperpigmented areas.
  • The color of the lesions ranges from brown to black to blue.
  • Lesions are usually isolated, with no apparent precipitating factors.
  • Lesions are slow growing and are usually present for months before treatment is sought.

Mucosal lesions are as follows:

  • Mucosal lesions can occur in the buccal mucosa, labial mucosa, palate, gingiva (see image below),[12] alveolar ridge, or lip.[13, 14] Intraoral melanoacanthoma lesion on the mandibularIntraoral melanoacanthoma lesion on the mandibular gingiva.
  • Although the appearance of mucosal lesions is similar to that of cutaneous lesions, mucosal lesions have a more rapid onset and rate of growth.[15]
  • Mucosal lesions occur mostly on the lip, buccal mucosa,[16] or palate,[17] and they are precipitated by a traumatic event.
  • The diameter of the mucosal lesions can range from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
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Causes

The role of trauma in the development of the lesion remains controversial, but any irritant must be removed.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Talib Najjar, DMD, MDS, PhD  Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Talib Najjar, DMD, MDS, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society for Clinical Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Thomas A Chiodo, DDS  Staff Dentist, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Private Practice, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Thomas A Chiodo, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Nathan Wuebbels, DMD, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey, University Hospital

Nathan Wuebbels, DMD, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Dental Association, and American Student Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Neil Shear, MD  Professor and Chief of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine; Head of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Women's College Health Sciences Center and Women's College Hospital, Canada

Neil Shear, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Canadian Dermatology Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J Miller, MD  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Pennsylvania State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Glen H Crawford, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital

Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Wright JM, Binnie WH, Byrd DL, Dunsworth AR. Intraoral melanoacanthoma. J Periodontol. Feb 1983;54(2):107-11. [Medline].

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Diagram of a pigmented epithelial macule.
Intraoral melanoacanthoma lesion on the mandibular gingiva.
Increased melanin pigmentation in the basal layer of a melanoacanthoma (hematoxylin and eosin, original magnification X10).
Proliferating dendritic melanocytes in the prickle-cell layers of a melanoacanthoma (hematoxylin and eosin, original magnification X40).
 
 
 
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