The deposition of colored endogenous or exogenous substances in the tissues of the tongue may result in pigmented lesions of the lingual mucosa. The accurate identification of the underlying condition can be difficult to achieve and relies mainly on patient history and clinical and histological evaluation. We present the case of a 30-year-old male referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of extensive pigmentation of the lingual dorsum. A diagnosis of physiologic pigmentation based on clinical and histological findings was made. Since some life-threatening diseases may present solely as pigmented lesions of the tongue, an early diagnosis is of utmost importance.
Keywords: differential diagnosis; melanin; melanoma; physiologic pigmentation; tongue.
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