Graphite oral tattoo: case report.
Renata Mendonça Moraes1, Gabriela de Morais Gouvêa Lima, Marinaldo Guilhermino
1Department of Bioscience and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Dermatology Online Journal
|December 4, 2015
Summary
This study details a rare graphite oral tattoo case, comparing its clinical and histological features with amalgam tattoos. Oral tattoos are more common in women, with graphite tattoos appearing in younger patients.
Area of Science:
- Oral Pathology
- Dermatology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Pigmented oral lesions encompass diverse pathological conditions, including exogenous tattoos like amalgam and graphite.
- Oral tattoos are infrequently documented, necessitating further clinical and histological comparison.
Observation:
- A rare case of a graphite tattoo on the palate is presented in a 62-year-old patient with a history of pencil injury.
- Clinical and histological findings of graphite tattoos were compared with amalgam tattoos.
- Oral tattoos demonstrate a higher prevalence in women, predominantly on the alveolar ridge.
Findings:
- Graphite tattoos are observed in younger patients compared to amalgam tattoos.
- Histologically, amalgam tattoos show silver impregnation of vascular and neural fibers.
- Graphite tattoos exhibit a granulomatous inflammatory response, less pronounced in amalgam tattoos.
Implications:
- Understanding the distinct histological differences aids in diagnosing exogenous oral pigmentations.
- While typically benign, biopsy may be considered to exclude melanocytic lesions.
- This comparison contributes to the differential diagnosis of pigmented oral lesions.
