Analysis of lip pigmentations by reflectance confocal microscopy: report of two cases

Oral mucosa pigmentations belong to a heterogeneous variety of lesions, which are usually divided into two groups: exogenous or endogenous pigmentations. The pigmented lesions most frequently found in the oral mucosa are the amalgam tattoo, the melanotic macula and the nevus. All these lesions may affect every part of the oral mucosa, and they may represent a hard diagnostic challenge for the clinician; the clinical objective examination is not sufficient to make a correct diagnosis. Reflectance Confocal Microscopy provides a real-time microscopic evaluation of tissue layers, and is widely considered a useful auxiliary tool in monitoring skin and mucosa lesions. In this context, Reflectance Confocal Microscopy imaging is a valid aid in the management of oral mucosa pigmented lesions, to corroborate and support the diagnostic process.