A pigmented nodule in the buccal mucosa

A 59-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of a 1-year history of a slow-growing painless nodule in the left buccal mucosa. She had no past or familial history of head and neck diseases, although she reported regular tobacco and alcohol consumption. She denied taking any medication at the time of the consultation. Physical examination was unremarkable, but an intraoral examination revealed a submucous nodule located in close relation to the occlusal line of the left buccal mucosa near the mandibular residual roots. The lesion was mobile and firm but slightly compressible on palpation. Clinically, the lesion presented as a well-defined asymptomatic pigmented nodule covered by intact mucosa, measuring approximately 8 mm (Figure 1).