White sponge nevus: A condition not always clinically suspected

Abstract

White sponge nevus (WSN) is an uncommon benign inherited disorder characterized by white and diffuse painless lesions in oral, esophageal, or genital mucosa. The lesions may develop at birth or later in childhood or adolescence, with careful clinical examination being sufficient for diagnosis in most cases. However, microscopic analysis may be necessary particularly in adults in which other whitish oral lesions may be clinically suspected. Dermatologists, dentists, and pathologists should consider WSN when evaluating multiple white oral lesions, thus preventing unnecessary treatments. Herein, we report four additional cases of WSN with emphasis on its clinical and histopathological features.

Keywords: oral mucosa; white lesions; white sponge nevus.