A focal intrinsic physiologic pigmentation of tongue

Pigmentation is defined as the process of deposition of pigments in the tissues. It can be endogenous or exogenous in origin and may be physiological or pathological. Pigmentation is a common intraoral finding; various diseases can lead to varied discolorations of the mucosa. Diagnosis of pigmented lesions of the oral cavity is a challenging task, therefore understanding of the causes of mucosal pigmentation and appropriate evaluation of the patient are essential in the diagnosis of the pigmented lesions.