A Rare Cause of Mucocutaneous Pigmentation: Laugier Hunziker Syndrome

Laugier Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is a rare, acquired pigmentation disorder characterized by macular melonotic pigmentation of the oral mucous membranes and lips frequently associated with longitudinal melanonychia. LHS is known to be an entirely benign condition with no underlying systemic abnormalities or malignant predisposition. However, it is very important to make a differential diagnosis with other mucocutaneous pigmentary disorders which require detailed examination, treatment and follow up. LHS is seen very rarely and to our knowledge, approximately 100 cases have been described in the literature, to date. There are only seven cases reported from the our country, based on the literature search in PubMed and Turkish Dermatological journals, avaliable on the web. Herein we report a 54-year-old woman diagnosed as having LHS, with hyperpigmented macular lesions of the tongue, lip, buccal mucosa, gingiva and palms and soles. (Turk J Dermatol 2011; 5: 75-8)