Pigmented nevus of the alveolar mucosa: report of a case

A pigmented nevus is defined as a hamartomatous proliferation of melaninproducing cells (nevus cells). A relatively rare case of the disease with involvement of the oral mucosa is reported.The patient was a 44-year-old woman who had a nevus on the alveolar mucosa of the maxilla for about 7 years. The nevus measured 33×23mm, but was asymptomatic. A biopsy showed the lesion to be an intradermal nevus. Because of the location of the nevus and the patient's past history of schizophrenia, the lesion was resected with the patient under general anesthesia. Postoperative healing was uneventful, and there was no evidence of recurrence as of 4 years 6 months after the operation.