title: Nevus Spilus (Speckled Lentiginous Nevus) in the Oral Cavity: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature.
abstract: The congenital melanocytic nevus is a pigmented melanocytic lesion that presents at birth or shortly thereafter. It is commonly described on the skin, usually on the trunk and extremities. Only five intraoral cases of congenital melanocytic nevi have been described in the English literature. A nevus spilus (speckled lentiginous nevus) is a clinical variant of congenital melanocytic nevus. The authors present the case of a 19-year-old male with an intraoral nevus spilus. The anterior mandibular gingiva exhibited multiple speckled, pigmented papules and macules on a thickened, hyperplastic macular background. Microscopic examination revealed characteristic morphologic features of intramucosal nevi extending into the deep portions of the submucosa. Although other authors have reported similar clinical presentation in the oral mucosa, no other case reports were found in the English literature classifying an intraoral congenital nevus as an intraoral nevus spilus. The sixth case of an intraoral congenital melanocytic nevus and the first case subclassified as an intraoral nevus spilus (speckled lentiginous nevus) is reported, with a review of the literature.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, Bethesda, MD; and †Department of Pathology, Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carle
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Royer
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult