Pigmented nevi of the oral mucosa: a clinicopathologic study of 32 new cases and review of 75 cases from the literature. Part II. Analysis of 107 cases.

Review and analysis of data of seventy-five cases from the literature, together with an additional thirty-two new cases, revealed that nevi of the oral mucosa are not rare and may be more common than previously thought. Nevi of the intramucosal type are the most common, followed by the common blue nevus. Compound nevi are uncommon, and junctional nevi are very rare. The data are analyzed as to the location, presence of clinical pigmentation, configuration, size, and duration of the nevi, as well as the patient's age, sex, and race. Oral nevi (especially those that are clinically nonpigmented) are often misdiagnosed, indicating that they are far more common than they would seem from the reported cases. The potential for oral nevi to undergo malignant transformation is unclear because of the paucity of cases and limited follow-up. Nevertheless, we recommend that all oral pigmented nevi be removed.