Linear white lesion in the oral mucosa

Two unrelated patients aged 60 and 61 presented with an asymptomatic, white, slightly raised line on the buccal mucosa extending bilaterally from the commissure to the last molar teeth along their occlusal line, involving also the inner lower lip mucosa (Fig 1, A and B). The lesions could not wipe off on scratching. Medical history was unremarkable. Histopathology showed hyperparakeratosis without granular layers and regular acanthosis vacuolated cells in the upper spinous cell layer with some dyskeratotic cells in the absence of dysplasia (Fig 2). Neither inflammatory infiltrate nor bacterial colonies attached to the surface or fungal elements were seen (Fig 3).