Image Based Question-65258

A 32-year-old female patient presented with a chief complaint of pigmentation on the tongue. It was present since many years, with no change in color and size. She was asymptomatic. There was no history of trauma to the area. The patient was in good health and was not taking any medications. Her past dental, medical, and personal history was noncontributory. Clinical view of the patient showed extensive pigmentation on the dorsal surface of tongue as seen in the picture below.The most probable pigment responsible for this pigmentation is?

A. Melanin.

B. Melanoid.

C. Oxyhemoglobin.

D. Carotene.

Correct Answer » A Explanation

Clinical view of the patient as shown in the picture above represents extensive melanin pigmentation on the dorsal surface of tongue.

Melanin is produced by melanocytes in the basal layer of the epithelium and is transferred to adjacent keratinocytes via membrane-bound organelles called melanosomes. Melanin is also synthesized by nevus cells, which are derived from the neural crest and are found in the skin and mucosa. Pigmented lesions caused by increased melanin deposition may be brown, blue, gray, or black, depending on the amount and location of melanin in the tissues.