Can a flat and round patch on the lip indicate cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 40-year-old female, not taking any medications. I have a flat, round-to-oval new lip patch. I noticed this about two to three months ago; there are no other symptoms other than the appearance of it, and it is about 8 mm. It is light purple or brown in color. Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your case. In my opinion, there are two to three differential diagnoses of your lesion.

1. Lichen planus - This could result due to many reasons or sun exposure. Treatment is sun protection by frequent application of any sunblock. Try to apply sunblock at least 20 minutes before going outside. And use it two to three times a day.

2. Fixed drug eruption (FDE) - Many drugs can cause it. The most common causes are NSAIDS or antibiotics like penicillin. But you have said that you do not take any medicines. Re-evaluate yourself if you have taken any in the last few weeks. Treatment is never to retake it and apply Hydrocortisone cream two times a day.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In my opinion, if the black patch changes from any pre-existing mole, then it could raise high suspicion of being cancerous or malignant. But according to your history, this is a new spot, and it did not have any preexisting mole. In that case, two diagnoses are lichen planus and FDE.

Both are nonmalignant conditions. But the diagnosis can only be confirmed by biopsy. But let me make you aware that a biopsy from the lip is tough to take. So in our setup, we make a clinical diagnosis. And we ask the patient to protect themselves from direct sun exposure by wearing hats, etc.