Oral melanotic macules. A review of 353 cases.

Clinical and histopathologic data were obtained on 353 cases of oral melanotic macules. The mean age at the time of diagnosis for all sites was 43.1 years. A significant predilection for females (p < 0.001) was noted and the most common location was the lower lip (33.0%). The mean size of the lesions was 6.8 mm. Brown was the most common color (64.9%), and most (66.0%) of the lesions were described as flat. Melanin was evident in both the basal cell layer and lamina propria in 93.5% of the cases.