CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ORAL MELANOCYTIC NEVI: A 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> To analyze the clinicopathologic features of oral melanocytic nevi (OMN) diagnosed in an oral and maxillofacial pathology service. <h3>Study Design</h3> A retrospective clinicopathologic study of OMNs diagnosed between 2000 and 2020 was performed. All cases were revised, and clinicopathologic data were collected. <h3>Results</h3> Among 17,030 diagnoses, 29 were OMNs (0.17%), with a high prevalence among females (<i>n</i> = 22; 75.9%) and a mean age of 37.6 years old. Most lesions exhibited a nodular aspect (31%) and affected the lips (31%) and oral mucosa (24.1%). Clinically, 62.1% of OMNs were pigmented. Blackish and brownish coloration was observed in 37.9% and 24.1% of cases, respectively. A mean size of 0.5 cm was found and 75.9% of cases were asymptomatic. Microscopically, intramucosal nevus was the most common (<i>n</i> = 26; 89.7%), followed by compound nevus (<i>n</i> = 2; 6.9%). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The clinical features observed in this study are similar to those reported in the literature. Intramucosal nevus is the most common type of OMN. Because OMNs can exhibit a broad of clinical features, it is necessary to correlate the clinical and histopathologic features to establish a correct diagnosis.