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Electron Microscopic X‐ray Microanalysis of Metals Deposited in Oral Mucosa
Author(s) -
Kanzaki Tamotsu,
Eto Hikaru,
Miyazawa Shichiro
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1992.tb03267.x
Subject(s) - microanalysis , amalgam (chemistry) , lamina densa , pathology , chemistry , oral mucosa , microfilament , basal lamina , electron microprobe , metal , buccal mucosa , materials science , ultrastructure , mineralogy , anatomy , biology , oral cavity , medicine , metallurgy , dentistry , cell , biochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , cytoskeleton
Abstract A 35‐year‐old woman exhibited bluish‐brown discoloration of her buccal mucosa suggesting malignant melanoma. Histopathological examination revealed that the pigment was not melanin but caused by metal deposits. Electron microscopically, metallic particles were located on the lamina densa of basal laminae at mucosal epithelium, nerve fibers, and bloodvessels and on the microfilaments of elastic fibers as well as in macrophages and fibroblasts. Electron microscopic point X‐ray microanalysis revealed that these metallic particles were composed of Ag, Se, Fe, Co, Cu, and S. Analysis suggests that these metals were derived from dental amalgam and that the discoloration was caused by amalgam tattoo.