White sponge nevus of cannon

Overview

White sponge nevus, also known as Cannon's disease or Hereditary leukokeratosis of mucosa, appears to follow a hereditary pattern as an autosomal dominant trait. Although it is congenital in most cases, it can occur in childhood or adolescence. A condition characterized by the presence of white plaques in the mouth and sometimes in the anal and vaginal lining.

Symptoms

* Oral mucosa lesions * Labial mucosa lesions * Thick lesions * White lesions * Folded lesions

Causes

It is caused by a mutation of the keratin 4 and keratin 13 genes.

Prognosis

White sponge nevus remains essentially unchanged after the first few months of onset. The occasional mildly symptomatic case may respond to topical applications of tetracycline. There is no malignant potential and it does not interfere with normal masticatory functions, and so no treatment is required except for the rare example of a plaque which extends onto the lip vermilion and is surgically removed for aesthetic reasons.