Main blackened lesions of the oral cavity

摘要

Introduction: pigmented lesions of the oral cavity may be due to local, systemic, physiological or pathological factors. Diagnosis of these lesions is largely based on their color, location, distribution and clinical evolution, alongside other characteristics, such as medical, dental or family antecedents and drug use. Despite the fact that some lesions exhibit rather specific features allowing accurate diagnosis in just one clinical examination, other procedures should also be performed, such as biopsies and laboratory tests, to reach a reliable diagnosis and apply the appropriate treatment. Objectives: the present bibliographic review is aimed at describing the main pigmented lesions of the oral cavity with emphasis on their differential diagnosis, an important element in their clinical management and treatment. Methods: abibliographic review was conducted in databases PubMed/Medline, Lilacs and Scielo. Results: the review revealed that oral and maxillofacial pigmented lesions may clinically simulate a melanoma or malignant lesion. Conclusions: special attention should be paid to these lesions during clinical examination. Appropriate questions should be asked of patients in order to obtain relevant information about the case under study, acquire knowledge about the different types of oral and facial pigmented lesions, and determine the need for histological examination to reach an accurate final diagnosis.