Lingual Lichenoid Lesion Due to Dental Amalgam Fillings: Case Report and Clinical Considerations

Abstract

Oral white lesions are quite common clinical conditions in clinical dental practice. They can be an expression of different diseases, so it is crucial to achieve a correct diagnosis to start an adequate treatment. However, differential diagnosis is not always easy because the clinical appearance of oral white lesions is often similar and non-pathognomonic. We report on a 42-year-old Caucasian woman who complained of a chronic white patch on the left border of her tongue. A provisional diagnosis of oral hairy leukoplakia was made, but the patient was HIV-negative and not immunocompromised. A patch test was performed to exclude an allergic reaction, which resulted negative. Two large amalgam fillings were removed, and the lesion regressed after two weeks, suggesting a diagnosis of oral lichenoid lesions. Amalgam-associated oral lichenoid lesions could be mistaken for hairy leukoplakia when located on the lateral border of the tongue. Patch tests for dental metal series are only sometimes helpful for a diagnosis of oral lichenoid lesions. Patients should follow a careful follow-up to monitor any neoplastic derailment of the lichenoid lesions.

Keywords

• oral lichenoid lesion
• oral hairy leukoplakia
• amalgam