Imatinib-Associated Oral Pigmentation: Report of a Case

Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is considered the gold-standard drug for treating chronic myeloid leukemia. However, it can be associated with oral side effects, including lichenoid reactions and pigmentation. Our aim was to report the clinical and histological features of imatinib-associated oral pigmentation. A 53-year-old woman diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2005, under imatinib treatment, was referred for evaluation for an 8-month-duration, painless pigmentation in the oral cavity, which was noticed by her dentist. A clinical examination showed grey-bluish diffuse palatal pigmentation. The clinical diagnosis included imatinib-associated pigmentation and melanocytic disorders, and an incisional biopsy was performed. The histopathological analysis showed a normal stratified squamous epithelium and the presence of melanin and iron foci in the adjacent connective tissue. Diagnosis was compatible with imatinib-associated oral pigmentation; the patient was oriented about the diagnosis and the pigmented area remained stable during follow-up.