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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:08
Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
Published on: March 6, 2019
Lenalidomide-Associated Oral Pigmentation: A Case Report
André Luis Santana de Freitas1, Fabiana Gomes Cardoso Pereira de Sousa2, Cleverson Teixeira Soares3,4
1Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Santa Cecília -UNISANTA, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Head and Neck Pathology
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Lenalidomide therapy can cause unusual oral pigmentation. Early oral examinations are crucial for diagnosing and managing this rare side effect in multiple myeloma patients.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Dermatology
- Oncology
Background:
- Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug commonly used for multiple myeloma.
- While generally safe, lenalidomide can cause pigmentary changes.
- Oral mucosal involvement is rarely documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of unusual oral pigmentation associated with lenalidomide therapy.
- To highlight the importance of oral examinations in patients receiving lenalidomide.
Main Methods:
- A case presentation of an 80-year-old Black female with multiple myeloma.
- Clinical description of asymptomatic brown macules on oral mucosa.
- Histopathological examination of a tongue biopsy.
Main Results:
- The biopsy revealed fine granular brownish pigmentation throughout epithelial layers and in connective tissues.
- This pigment distribution pattern is novel in patients treated with lenalidomide.
- The patient presented with asymptomatic oral lesions.
Conclusions:
- This case highlights an unusual pattern of lenalidomide-induced oral pigmentation.
- Routine oral examinations are essential for early detection.
- Prompt diagnosis aids in proper management of drug-induced side effects.
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