Pigmented Lesions
Amalgam Tattoo
Focal grey-black macule caused by iatrogenic implantation of amalgam particles into oral mucosa.
§ figuresFigures (3)
Fig. 1Amalgamtätowierung mit Ablagerungen von feingranulärem Silbersulfid im Bereich der Skelettmuskulatur der Mundschleimhaut
“Amalgam tattoo-3” · Bernhard138 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 2Amalgamtätowierung mit Ablagerungen von feingranulärem Silbersulfid in Umgebung kleiner Gefäße der Mundschleimhaut
“Amalgam tattoo-2” · Bernhard138 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 3Amalgamtätowierung mit Ablagerungen von feingranulärem Silbersulfid entlang von elastischen Fasern des Bindegewebes der Mundschleimhaut
“Amalgam tattoo-1” · Bernhard138 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Verified open-access images only, reproduced for education under their stated licences · no AI-generated or illustrative artwork · Amalgam Tattoo figures pending faculty review.
§ overviewOverview
Focal grey-black macule caused by iatrogenic implantation of amalgam particles into oral mucosa.
§ clinicalClinical Features
- 01Painless flat blue-grey macule
- 02Gingiva or alveolar mucosa adjacent to restorations
§ differentialDifferential Diagnosis
- 01Melanotic macule
- 02Nevus
- 03Melanoma
- 04Kaposi sarcoma
§ radiographicRadiographic Features
- 01May show radiopaque particles
§ treatmentTreatment
- 01No treatment; biopsy if diagnosis uncertain
§ prognosisPrognosis
Excellent, benign.
§ evidenceReferences & Evidence
Current Classification
WHO Classification of Tumours Online — Head and Neck
IARC / WHO · 2022
Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.
Evidence summary
Highest level of evidence linked to this page: WHO / Official Classification.
- L1 · Classification — 1
- L6 · Textbook — 3
1 linked source was published from 2024 onwards. Where guidance is limited or contested, rely on the higher-level sources above rather than this summary. Educational use only — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Content last reviewed
September 2026
Evidence last reviewed
September 2026
Next scheduled review
September 2027
Review status
EVIDENCE REVIEWED
Search latest PubMed evidence
Last literature search: 7 September 2026
Current Classification
IARC / WHO. IARC · 2022
Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.
Histopathology References
Barnes L. CRC Press · 2008
Detailed histopathological reference for head and neck diagnostic criteria.
Textbook References
Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM et al.. Elsevier · 2024
Standard reference textbook of oral and maxillofacial pathology used throughout this atlas.
Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B. Elsevier · 2020
Undergraduate and postgraduate oral pathology textbook widely used in BDS and FCPS curricula.
Draft — pending faculty review. Educational use only; verify against current guidelines and primary sources before clinical application.