Localized oral amyloidosis of the palate.
BACKGROUND
Amyloidosis is a rare disease with multifactorial pathogenesis. Localized amyloidosis affecting the head and neck region is an uncommon and benign process, which has almost no clinical consequences. The most reported characteristic features of localized oral amyloidosis appear as multiple soft nodules of the tongue, lip and cheek.


METHODS
We report the case of a 68-year-old woman suffering from a primary localized amyloidosis presenting as a purple patch on the palate.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of systemic amyloidosis or underlying plasma cell dyscrasia have to be ruled out in patients presenting with a diagnosis of amyloidosis of the oral mucosa. If a primary localized amyloidosis is proven, the surgical therapy may be useful to eliminate a functional impairment.
Pentenero
M
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Oral Medicine Section, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti, 38--Turin, Italy. monica.pentenero@unito.it
Davico Bonino
L
L
Tomasini
C
C
Conrotto
D
D
Gandolfo
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010159:Palate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents