title: An unusual case of oral hirsutism in a patient with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: Hirsutism is the presence of terminal hair in women in a male-like pattern, which represents the clinical expression of an underlying excess of androgen (hyperandrogenism). Numerous conditions and serious diseases can result in high levels of circulating androgens, although the most common cause of hirsutism is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The following classic clinical features characterize PCOS: irregular menstrual periods, infertility, excess hair growth, and obesity. The diagnosis of this disease is related to the discovery of clinical signs that are confirmed by hematochemical examinations. We present a clinical case that is relatively unusual owing to the appearance of black hairs that are similar to nasal hair in the oral mucosa, which is an atypical location. This unusual case was considered to be oral hirsutism, and its presence constituted the essential element in the diagnosis of PCOS. The hypothesis proposed for this unusual condition could be correlated to the high rate of circulating testosterone that may have influenced and led to the development and appearance of the hair follicles in the oral mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Stomatology Department, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Femiano
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rullo
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serpico
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laino
mesh_terms: D002828:Choristoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004848:Epithelium; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult