Oral Postinflammatory Pigmentation: Clinicopathologic Features of Nine Cases

Abstract

Oral postinflammatory pigmentation (OPP) is a pigmentary change of the oral mucosa caused by high melanin production, often associated with chronic inflammatory disorders. Several conditions could lead to OPP, including oral lichen planus (OLP), oral lichenoid lesion (OLL), pemphigus, and pemphigoid. Here, we present 9 OPP cases. The main clinical characteristic in all the cases was oral black to brown pigmentation, localized or diffuse, microscopically exhibiting melanin deposition in the lamina propria. Five were men and 4 women (mean age 52 years). Five cases showed occurrence on the buccal mucosa and the other cases on the lower lip, hard palate, mouth floor, and labial commissure. Four cases were associated with leukoplakia, 2 with OLL, and 1 case each with OLP, actinic cheilitis, and fibrous hyperplasia. More studies involving large series of OPP cases should be conducted for a better understanding of their etiopathogenic mechanisms and clinicopathologic features.