Oral pathology

Oral pathology is a domain of dentistry. In the context of anatomical pathology, it can be lumped with head and neck pathology.

Odontogenic tumours and cysts

Main article: Odontogenic tumours and cysts

Pigmented lesions of the oral cavity

A brief DDx of pigmented lesions:

• Diffuse & bilateral:
  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
  • Addison's disease.
  • Drug-induced.
  • Smoker's melanosis.
• Focal:
  • Vascular lesions.
  • Amalgam tattoo.
  • Melanocytic lesions.
    • Melanotic macule.
    • Blue nevus.
    • Malignant melanoma.

Smoker's melanosis

General

• Benign.
• Seen in ~20% of smokers.
• Presence of find (smoking) dose-dependent, i.e. longer heavier smokers are more likely to have it.

Gross

• Typically labial gingvia or buccal mucosa.

Microscopic

Features:

• Basal melanosis.
• +/-Melanin incontinence.

Image:

• Basal melanosis (medscape.com).

See also

• Head and neck cytopathology.