A Case of Laugier-Hunziker Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is a rare idiopathic acquired hyperpigmentation of oral mucosa and lips which is often associated with longitudinal melanonychia. This condition is known to be an entirely benign disease with no systemic manifestations. Herein we report a case of a 54-year-old woman presenting with a 7-year history of asymptomatic oral pigmentation and linear pigmented streaks of several fingernails. Histological examination taken from the mucosal lesion of tongue revealed increased pigmentation at the epithelial basal layer and a few melanophages in the submucosa. The lack of a family history coupled with the absence of any polyps on the endoscopic examinations of upper and lower bowel as well as the clinical features with late onset were all in favor of a diagnosis of Laugier-Hunziker syndrome. The significance of this disease is due to the need to differentiate this disorder from other pigmentary disorders of the oral mucosa, especially Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.