Clinical picture of the finding | Possible cause |
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Adapted from: Regezi J, Sciubba J, Jordan R. Oral pathology - Clinical pathologic correlations. 7. edition. Saunders Elsevier 2016. | |
Light coloured | |
| Pseudomembranous candidiasis, toothpaste-induced peeling of the mucosal surface layer |
| Irritative hyperkeratosis, lichenoid reaction, drug reaction, lichen planus, hyperplastic candidosis, leukoplakia, white sponge naevus*, cheek/lip chewing (morsicatio), snuff-induced changes, nicotine stomatitis, solar cheilitis, hairy tongue, oral submucous fibrosis, Fordyce's granules, ectopic lymphatic tissue, gingival cyst, gingival abscess, lipoma * The surface may exfoliate. |
Erythematous | Atrophic candidiasis, lichen planus, drug reaction, contact allergy, pemphigoid, deficiency of iron, folate or vitamin B12, haemangioma/vascular malformation, pyogenic granuloma, median rhomboid glossitis, geographic tongue, petechiae and bruising (trauma, blood disorder), erythroplakia, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener granulomatosis), Kaposi sarcoma |
Ulcerous | |
| Trauma, aphtha, drug reaction, erythema multiforme, lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, Behçet's disease, reactive arthritis (formerly Reiter's syndrome), gonorrhoea, cyclic neutropenia |
| Trauma, syphilis, tuberculosis, actinomycosis, lupus erythematosus, drug reaction, contact allergy, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, epidermoid carcinoma, maxillary sinus carcinoma |
Blistery | |
| Herpes simplex infection, Herpes varicella-zoster infection, enterovirus, herpangina, dermatitis herpetiformis |
| Pemphigoid, pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis, epidermolysis bullosa, drug reaction, contact allergy |
Verrucous | Palatal papillomatosis, squamous papilloma, condyloma acuminatum, oral verruca vulgaris, focal epithelial hyperplasia, verrucous leukoplakia, verrucous carcinoma, verruciform xanthoma |
Hyperpigmentation | |
| Amalgam tattoo, melanotic macule, naevus, melanoma, childhood neuroectodermal tumour |
| Physiological pigmentation; pigmentation related to tobacco, inflammation, drug or exposure to heavy metals; Addison's disease, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Laugier-Hunziker syndrome |
Submucosal swelling | |
| Pyogenic granuloma, peripheral giant cell granuloma, peripheral fibroma, gingival abscess, exostosis, gingival cyst, eruption cyst, congenital epulis of a newborn, generalized gingival hyperplasia |
| Ranula, dermoid cyst, lymphoepithelial cyst, salivary gland tumour, mesenchymal tumour |
| Traumatic fibroma, mucocoele, salivary gland tumour, mesenchymal tumour |
| Traumatic fibroma, pyogenic granuloma, granular cell tumour, neurofibroma, traumatic neuroma, salivary gland tumour, haemangioma, lymphangioma |
| Bening bony nodule, dental abscess, salivary gland tumour, lymphoma, mesenchymal tumour, tumour of upper jaw or maxillary sinus, mucocoele |