Oral sarcoidosis aiding in diagnosis of underlying systemic disease.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystemic, granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology characterised by the formation of non-caseating granuloma. It shows slight female predominance and has a bimodal age distribution. Lungs, skin, eye and liver are commonly affected. The oral lesion, though uncommon, may present as submucosal nodule, papule or superficial ulceration. Occasionally, oral lesion may be the first manifestation of underlying systemic disease. This case is interesting because it emphasises that dental practitioners may play a key role in early recognition of the clinical presentation of this multifaceted disease, and thereby aid in the diagnosis of the systemic condition. The present report deals with a case of sarcoidosis affecting the buccal mucosa in a 48-year-old woman. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and within 4 months of corticosteroid therapy, the oral lesion regressed with no recurrence or new lesion noted over a period of 1 year.

Rhabdomyosarcoma involving maxilla mimicking gingival enlargement: A diagnostic challenge.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare, rapidly growing, highly aggressive malignant neoplasm, originating from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells that retain their ability to differentiate into skeletal muscle. It mainly affects children, accounts for <1% of all adult malignancies and has varied clinical presentations. The head and neck region accounts for 35%-40% of all RMS cases, of which 10%-12% cases involve the oral cavity. This report deals with a case of RMS in a 40-year-old woman, primarily involving maxillary gingiva for which she underwent excision with subsequent recurrences. The uniqueness of this case is that it reminds us of the essential clinical dictum that 'every growth we encounter, no matter how benign it appears clinically, should be looked upon with suspicion'. Hence, proper integration of history, clinical examination and investigation is required to reach a correct diagnosis enabling early treatment, thereby preventing functional and aesthetic loss and psychological trauma.

Oral condyloma acuminatum in a 75-year-old geriatric patient.

Condyloma acuminatum (CA) is a human papillomavirus-induced sexually transmitted disease which is characterised by epithelial proliferation in the genital region, perianal region, oral cavity and larynx. It was first reported by Knapp and Uohara in 1967. The disease is more common in children and teenagers and appears as solitary or multiple, pinkish, sessile papules or plaques with pebbled surface or as pedunculated papillary lesions. Oral lesions commonly affect the lips, floor of the mouth, lateral and ventral surfaces of tongue, buccal mucosa, soft palate and rarely gingiva. The present report deals with a case of CA affecting a 75-year-old male patient with emphasis on clinical presentation, histological features and importance of PCR for establishment of definitive diagnosis. This case is unique because CA is extremely rare in geriatric age group.