Gingival lesions in lipoid proteinosis

Lipoid proteinosis is a rare heritable disease of the skin and mucous membranes characterized by subepithelial deposits of hyaline material. The morbid factors include disfiguring papulo-nodular lesions particularly of exposed skin, hoarseness of voice due to vocal cord infiltration, nodular deformation of the eyelids, and board-like rigidity of the tongue. Infiltration of the gingiva is usually unreported, and when mentioned has been equivocally related to the overall disease process. This patient demonstrates striking ulceration and hypertrophy with histologic evidence of heavy deposition of amorphous material confirming a gingival component to the lipoid proteinosis entity.