Multiple Intraoral Ulcerations
DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION

History of Present Illness

Mrs. Cabello is a 68-year-old Hispanic female who presents to your office for a new patient examination. She states that she last visited a dentist approximately four years ago. She relates no acute dental problems but complains of significant pain of several months duration involving multiple areas of her mouth.

Medical History

• Adverse drug effects: none
• Medications: flecainide, Pravachol, vitamin D, Centrum silver
• Pertinent medical history: paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, hypercholesterolemia, osteopenia
• Pertinent family history: mother and father - deceased
• Social history: previous history of tobacco use - discontinued 30 years ago; does not drink alcohol; denies recreational drug use

Clinical Findings

Extraoral examination is within normal limits. No skin lesions are noted. Intraoral examination reveals multiple irregularly shaped ulcerations involving the left side of the lower labial mucosa, the left and right lateral tongue, and the ventral tongue (Figures 1-2). An incisional biopsy from the right lateral tongue is performed and the tissue submitted for histopathologic examination.

Histopathologic Findings

An incisional biopsy reveals acantholysis in the lower levels of the epithelium. The basal epithelial cells are attached to the underlying connective tissue (Figure 3). Individual squamous epithelial cells (Tzanck cells) are noted in the intraepithelial blister (Figure 4). Direct immunofluorescence reveals the deposition of IgG and C3 in a netlike pattern around individual squamous epithelial cells.