Oral postinflammatory pigmentation: an analysis of 7 cases

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Dermatology
• Pathology

Background:

• Oral postinflammatory pigmentation (OPP) is characterized by melanin excess in oral mucosa.
• It arises secondary to chronic inflammation, requiring documented association with inflammatory conditions.
• Clinical presentation varies from localized to diffuse brown-black discoloration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review medical records and biopsy findings of oral postinflammatory pigmentation cases.
• To identify associated inflammatory conditions contributing to OPP.
• To contribute to the limited published data on OPP diagnosis, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for seven OPP cases.
• Inclusion of biopsy examination results when available.
• Analysis of clinical presentations and histopathological findings.

Main Results:

• Four cases were associated with oral lichen planus.
• Two cases showed association with lichenoid lesions.
• One case was linked to proliferative verrucous leukoplakia.

Conclusions:

• Oral postinflammatory pigmentation is frequently associated with specific chronic inflammatory oral conditions.
• Further research is needed to understand the high prevalence, diagnosis, and management of OPP.
• Recognizing the link between inflammation and pigmentation is crucial for accurate diagnosis.