Linear Epidermal Nevus of the Oral Cavity: A Rare Diagnosis

Abstract

Linear epidermal nevus is an uncommon diagnosis of benign lesions of the oral cavity. It is characterized by a congenital malformation arising from the ectoderm cells, which are arranged according to a typical linear configuration known as Blaschko's lines. We report a case of linear epidermal nevus of oral cavity in a 51-year-old lady or woman. The linear epidermal nevus of the oral cavity, although rare, can be considered a differential diagnosis of oral papillomatosis (OP). The histopathological studies and detailed description are the center of the diagnostic and clinical evolution.

Linear verrucous epidermal nevus with oral manifestations: report of two cases

“…They are usually present at birth or infancy and may enlarge slowly during childhood and adolescence [6]. When these lesions are linear in appearance following the lines of Blaschko -with streaks and whorls stopping abruptly at the midline -they are known as LVEN [1,5,7].…”

“…Lesions are often characterized by localized pink verrucous growths with well-defined borders on the lips, palate, gingiva, buccal mucosa, and tongue. Less common findings include tongue hypertrophy, dental anomalies, and high arched palate [7,9,13]. Oral lesions of LVEN can affect different anatomical sites but they do not cross the midline.…”

“…The main entities in the clinical differential diagnosis for intraoral LVEN lesions include human papillomavirus-related lesions (squamous papillomas, condyloma, verruca vulgaris, focal epithelial hyperplasia), lymphangioma, and verrucous carcinoma for lesions observed in adults. The diagnosis is mainly made according to the histopathological findings [7,9]. The treatment of LVEN is challenging and many different therapeutic modalities have been attempted with variable results.…”

Linear Epidermal Nevus: A Case Report With Oral and Facial Manifestations

“…Instead, the lesions follow a pattern described as following the lines of Blaschko, which are named after the dermatologist Alfred Blaschko who observed these lines in 1901. [1][2][3] LEN is considered a hamartoma that can manifest anywhere on the body. These hamartomatous lesions are frequently referred to as epidermal nevi and clinically present as plaque-like, papillomatous lesions with variable pigmentation.…”

“…LEN differs from a nevus that presents as a solitary mass and is considered its own distinct form of nevus. 1,4 The lines of Blaschko, although not fully understood, are believed to represent the pathway of migrating embryonic skin cells. LEN represents a form of mosaicism, whereby an individual has cells with different genotypes derived from the same zygote.…”