Erythema multiforme-like lip presentation in pemphigus vulgaris patients: a multicenter case series.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering disease. Autoantibodies are directed against desmogleins, leading to the formation of intraepithelial bullae. PV, as with other autoimmune mucocutaneous disorders of the oral cavity, presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Approximately 50-70% of cases present first with oral lesions. The lesions commonly start as vesicles or bullae that rapidly rupture, leading to erosions and ulcerations. The palatal, gingival, buccal, and labial mucosa are the most commonly affected sites. Oral PV can mimic several other diseases that cause mucosal erosions and/or ulcerations, including erythema multiforme (EM). EM is an acute, immune-mediated, self-limited hypersensitivity condition primarily associated with herpes simplex infection. Oral lesions can be variable, but a very characteristic presentation with labial hemorrhagic erosions, ulcerations and crusting is commonly seen. In this case series, we present six cases of PV: one male patient and five female patients whose ages ranged from 34 to 65 years old. All patients presented with hemorrhage and crusting of the lips in addition to multiple intraoral erosions and ulcerations. Three patients presented with oral and skin lesions. All patients underwent biopsies, and a diagnosis of PV was confirmed. All patients were treated with steroids (topical and systemic) and variable steroid-sparing agents. This case series emphasizes that oral PV may be misdiagnosed as EM in a subgroup of patients who present with persistent lip hemorrhage and crusting. Therefore, a comprehensive history, clinical examination and incisional biopsies should be considered in such patients.

Oral ulceration (Part 1).

Ulceration is probably the oral mucosal condition seen most frequently by general dental practitioners. It is almost always painful and therefore sufferers are prompt to seek advice. An important exception to this generalisation is the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma, which is often painless in its early stages. Definitive diagnosis, which requires mucosal biopsy, is mandatory for any persistent area of oral ulceration.

Oral ulceration (Part 2).

Ulceration is probably the oral mucosal condition seen most frequently by general dental practitioners. It is almost always painful and therefore sufferers are prompt to seek advice. An important exception to this generalisation is the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma, which is often painless in its early stages. Definitive diagnosis, which requires mucosal biopsy, is mandatory for any persistent area of oral ulceration.

Case Report: Giant Oral Ulcers Attributed to Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Patient with AIDS.

Oral ulcers are often neglected in patients with AIDS. However, giant oral ulcers are uncommon and are usually suspected to be malignant lesions. Our study presents a case of giant ulcers in an AIDS patient that were initially suspected to be oral cancer. To assist with diagnosis, conventional microbiological tests, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, and a pathological examination were conducted on oral lesion biopsy specimens. The case was finally confirmed via hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining to be a cytomegalovirus infection.

Neutropenic ulcers in oncology: terminology, diagnosis, and management.

Neutropenic ulcerations are characterized by mucosal ulcerations which occur in the presence of neutropenia, suggesting a direct link between neutropenia and mucosal ulceration. An oral ulcer can be labeled as "neutropenic" only if the patients have primary (typically congenital) or secondary neutropenia, and neutropenia is the sole causative factor. Oral mucosal ulcers observed in patients undergoing oncologic therapy may also be termed as "neutropenic ulcers", but the pathogenesis of these oral ulcers more likely involves mucosal events related to trauma, microbial factors, and direct cytotoxicity. In cancer patients, the early appearance of oral ulcers is often attributed to oral mucositis which is a condition primarily caused by the direct mucosal cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy. Oral ulcers that develop later during or after active cancer therapy may result from intraoral trauma and typically manifest on non-keratinized areas of the oral mucosa which are more susceptible to mucosal damage. In patients undergoing chemotherapy, factors such as disturbances in mucosal barrier function as well as bone marrow suppression lead to reduced neutrophil count and function, and can contribute to the development of oral ulcers. While the etiology of oral ulcers in cancer therapy receiving patients can vary, it is important to emphasize that the host's response plays a crucial role in the progression and repair process of these lesions. This narrative review presents the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, and potential management approaches for oral ulcerations in neutropenic patients, with a particular focus on clarifying the usage of the term "neutropenic ulcer" since this term lacks diagnostic specificity and can be misleading in clinical practice regarding the underlying causes and treatment strategies.

Does decision tree analysis predict oral ulcer activity-related factors in patients with Behçet's syndrome?

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to identify the interactions among treatment protocols and oral ulcer activity related factors in patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS) using the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) algorithm. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 979 patients with BS were included from16 centres in Turkey, Jordan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. In the CART algorithm, activities of oral ulcer (active vs. inactive), genital ulcer (active vs. inactive), cutaneous involvement (active vs. inactive), musculoskeletal involvement (active vs. inactive), gender (male vs. female), disease severity (mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal involvement vs. major organ involvement), smoking habits (current smoker vs. non-smoker), tooth brushing habits (irregular vs. regular), were input variables. The treatment protocols regarding immunosuppressive (IS) or non-IS medications were the target variable used to split from parent nodes to purer child nodes in the study. RESULTS: In mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal involvement (n=538), the ratio of IS use was higher in patients with irregular toothbrushing (ITB) habits (27.1%) than in patients with regular toothbrushing (RTB) habits (14.2%) in oral ulcer activity. In major organ involvement (n=441), male patients with ITB habits were more likely treated with IS medications compared to those with RTB habits (91.6% vs. 77.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Male BS patients on IS who have major organ involvement and oral ulcer activity with mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal involvement have irregular toothbrushing habits. Improved oral hygiene practices should be considered to be an integral part for implementing patient empowerment strategies for BS.

How to recognise a Behçet's ulcer from other types of oral ulceration? Defining Behçet's ulceration by an International Delphi Consultation.

OBJECTIVES: To define the clinical characteristics of oral ulceration (OU) in Behçet's disease (BD), to allow differentiation from other causes of OU, including aphthous ulcers, by an International Delphi consultation. To develop a clinical guideline on how to recognise BD ulcers. METHODS: Round 1. 40 clinical images of OU in BD, recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) were shown. Participants answered, independently, which images would be consistent with a BD ulcer. Round 2. The results from marking independently were shown. The panel remarked the questions through iteration process. The images not agreed to be a possible BD ulcer were discarded. Round 3. 10 clinical descriptors that may define BD ulcers were suggested. Participants ranked the level of importance for each descriptor on each image presented. Round 4. Participants re-ranked their level of agreement for each descriptor through iteration process. Whether the clinical pictures would be different from RAS was also explored. A final agreement was reached. RESULTS: This study has shown clear differentiation between BD, IBD and MMP ulcers when defining them by phenotype through clinical images only. On the other hand, no differentiation between RAS and BD ulcers was found. The most important clinical descriptors that define BD ulcers have been agreed. CONCLUSIONS: New clinical guidance for Health Care Professionals (HCP) on how to recognise a BD ulcer has been proposed. This should elucidate an earlier diagnosis, quicker access to treatment and control of the disease enhancing patient's quality of life.

[Analysis of Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Oral Ulcers and Bloodstream Infection in Patients with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors of oral ulcers and bloodstream infection in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: The clinical data of 401 hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospective analyzed, and the risk factors of oral ulcers and bloodstream infection statistical and analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 401 patients, the incidence of oral ulcers was 61.3% (246/401), and the incidence of bloodstream infection was 9.0% (36/401). A total of 40 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 36 patients, including 26 strains of Gram negative strains (65%), 13 strains of Gram positive strains (32.5%), and 1 strain of fungi (2.5%). Single-factor analysis showed that oral hygiene was associated with the occurrence of bloodstream infection, and the Multi-factor analysis showed that age ≥14 years old, disease diagnosis of leukemia, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were risk factors for oral ulcers. CONCLUSION: The incidence of oral ulcers in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is high. The age ≥14 years, disease diagnosis of leukemia, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were risk factors for oral ulcers in patients, and oral hygiene was associated with the occurrence of bloodstream infection.

[Ulcerations of the oral mucosa]. / Ulceraties van het mondslijmvlies.

Ulceration is a common presenting sign of a wide spectrum of diseases of the oral cavity involving many etiologic factors, such as trauma, infection, neoplasms, medication, and immune related disorders, ranging from self-limited lesions to life-threatening diseases. In most cases, a proper diagnosis can be established based on medical history and clinical features only. Early diagnosis is important as oral ulcerations might be a manifestation of a systemic disease or sometimes even due to a malignant process.

Oral lesions after infection by SARS CoV 2: two case reports / Lesiones bucales posteriores a infección por SARS CoV 2 presentación de dos casos

Introduction: The SARS CoV 2 infection has resulted in several health, economic, and social crises in all areas. The disease shows a substantial biological diversity in humans causing a series of sequels in the trans- or post-infection period in the entire organism. Case Report: The manifestations that occur in the oral cavity and pharynx have not been evaluated. In this study, two clinical cases are reported. The first patient, a 67-year-old male, presents erosive lesions on the dorsal surface of his tongue after SARS CoV 2 infection. Results: Therapy consisting of reinforcing oral cleaning, use of antifungal solutions, mouthwashes containing superoxidation solution and B complex was given to the patient. The reported lesions improved satisfactorily. The second case, a 47-year-old male patient, presented vesiculobullous lesions on the lingual and labial mucosa accompanied by severe painful symptoms after SARS CoV 2 infection. An incisional biopsy was performed. The histopathological result was compatible with pemphigus vulgaris, and the treatment protocol was started with 0.1% topical mometasone and 2g miconazole gel, observing adequate involution of the lesions after 20 days. Conclusions: The aim of this study is to report on the lesions affecting the oral cavity and pharynx in post-COVID patients with the aim of carrying out a thorough intraoral examination, establishing a clinical or histopathological diagnosis to implement a specific treatment plan in each case to improve the health and quality of life of the patients. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Oral manifestations; Oral ulcer; Pemphigus; Mouth; Mucous membrane.

Introducción: La infección por virus de SARS CoV 2 ha dejado a su paso una estela de crisis en materia de salud, económica, social y en todos los ámbitos a la fecha seguimos realizando la observación del comportamiento de la enfermedad en los seres humanos con una diversidad biológica importante y que ha traído como consecuencia una serie de secuelas que se presentan en el periodo trans o posterior a la infección en toda la economía corporal. Reporte de Caso: Se ha evaluado poco las manifestaciones que se presentan en la cavidad bucal y faringe; se presentan dos casos clínicos el primero paciente masculino de 67 años de edad posterior a la infección por SARS CoV 2 presenta diluciones de continuidad en bordes laterales de la lengua se indica terapia y refuerza limpieza bucal, antimicótico, colutorios con solución de superoxidación y complejo B, las úlceras involucionan de manera satisfactoria. Resultados: El segundo caso masculino de 47 años posterior a la infección por SARS CoV 2 debuta con lesiones vesículo-ampollosas en mucosa lingual, labial con sintomatología dolorosa severa, se realiza biopsia incisional donde el resultado histopatológico es compatible con pénfigo vulgar, se inicia protocolo de tratamiento con mometasona tópica al 0.1% y miconazol gel 2g observándose una adecuada involución de las lesiones a los 20 días. Conclusiones: El objetivo de este trabajo es poner en contexto de la comunidad médica y científica las lesiones concernientes a la cavidad bucal y faringe que están presentando los pacientes postcovid con el objetivo de realizar una exhaustiva exploración intraoral, establecer un diagnóstico clínico o histopatológico y con base en esto instaurar un plan de tratamiento específico en cada caso en particular con el fin fundamental de mejorar la salud y calidad de vida del paciente.

A Man With Asymptomatic Ulcerated White Plaques on the Soft Palate.

A man in his 60s had irregular gray-white ulcers with a surrounding erythema on the soft palate, uvula, and tonsils that did not improve with oral cefuroxime. He reported sexual contact with 1 male partner over the prior 6 months; history and physical examination findings were otherwise unremarkable. What is the diagnosis and what would you do next?

Natural history of Behçet's disease focusing on remission of oral ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the long-term clinical course of each manifestation of Behçet's disease (BD) and clarify factors involved in oral ulcer (OU) remission using clinical information of BD patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 155 BD patients visiting our hospital (1989-2020). We defined remission criteria for each manifestation and examined long-term clinical changes. Classification and regression trees and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate OU prognostic factors; hazard ratios were used to assign scores to prognostic factors deemed significant [OU prognosis score (OuP score)]. Risk stratification was examined by dividing the OuP scores into four stages. RESULTS: OUs appeared earliest, with the slowest decline in prevalence observed post-BD diagnosis. OU presence was the most common factor inhibiting complete remission. Young age at OU onset, never smoker, presence of genital ulcers, positive pathergy test, no usage of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors or of immunosuppressants, and long-term non-treatment or symptomatic treatment for OUs were poor OU prognostic factors. Based on multivariable analysis, the area under the curve of the OuP score to predict OU prognosis was 0.678. CONCLUSIONS: Remission criteria for each symptom clarified that OU had the greatest impact on complete BD remission. Faster OU remission was associated with earlier OU therapeutic intervention other than symptomatic treatment.

Localized CO2 laser treatment of a recalcitrant oral ulceration in pemphigus vulgaris.

INTRODUCTION: Recalcitrant oral lesions of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune blistering disease, can result in significant discomfort, difficulty in eating, and maintaining oral hygiene. Increasing the dosage of systemic medications to control such localized lesions results in an increased risk of adverse effects. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a male patient diagnosed at age 51 with PV by oral biopsy that included a direct immunofluorescence examination. After further baseline laboratory testing, he was started on prednisone and mycophenolate. These medications were slowly tapered with adjustments guided by clinical signs. Mycophenolate was replaced with intravenous immunoglobulin monthly infusions due to adverse effects about 2 years after initiation. During the 4.5-year follow-up period after diagnosis, his oral and skin lesions were well-controlled apart from minor transient flares. However, a painful ulcerated lesion on the facial gingiva between #11 and 12 was nonresponsive, even with the use of topical clobetasol in trays. A carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser was used to vaporize the recalcitrant lesion under local anesthesia. The procedure resulted in complete healing of ulceration with no recurrence until the most recent examination, 2 years postlaser surgery. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive procedures that can facilitate a decrease in the cumulative dosage of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants have great value in the management of PV. CO2 laser vaporization is safe, with minimal morbidity and no long-term side effects. It should be considered an adjunctive treatment option for the management of recalcitrant lesions in patients with oral PV. KEY POINTS: Why is this case new information? To our knowledge, this is the second report on the use of a CO2 laser in the treatment of recalcitrant oral lesions of PV and the first report with a documented long-term resolution of the treated lesions. What are the keys to the successful management of this case? A localized recalcitrant lesion was treated with this approach. All other mucosal and cutaneous sites were well controlled on the patient's systemic medication regimen. What are the primary limitations to success in this case? This approach is only relevant for the management of recalcitrant lesions in patients whose disease activity is otherwise well controlled. The availability of specialized equipment and trained clinicians is necessary.