Oral ulceration with mandibular necrosis

Spontaneous oral ulceration with bone sequestration: its relevance in current clinical practice

Oral ulceration associated with bony exposure and sequestration is uncommon and often related to well-recognised conditions. In a small group of patients no obvious aetiological factors can be elucidated, and various terminologies have been utilised to describe these lesions. We report six cases of spontaneous oral ulceration with bone sequestration as a specific entity and review the pertinent literature. We retrospectively reviewed patients presenting in the period 2013-2018. Data collected included demographic details, relevant medical, drug, and radiotherapy history; presentation, investigations, management, and outcome. Six patients with an age range of 49-65 years were identified with spontaneous oral ulceration with bone sequestration in the study period. All were males, and none had any relevant history. Five lesions occurred over the mylohyoid ridge and one was related to a lingual mandibular torus. The most common presentation was a painful ulcer with exposed bone, which had been present for 6 - 12 weeks. Occlusal radiographs demonstrated focal rarefaction in two patients. All were managed conservatively and by removal of the loose sequestrum. Healing occurred successfully in all cases, and this was earlier when the loose sequestrum was removed. Spontaneous oral ulceration with bone sequestration is a distinct lesion that most often presents over the prominence of the mylohyoid ridge. It is currently an uncommon entity (0.02%), but this could well be due to a lack of recognition and under-reporting. It should be considered as a diagnosis only when other causes have been excluded. Lesions heal successfully with conservative management and surgical intervention, and this occurs earlier following removal of the loose sequestrum.

Oral ulceration with bone sequestration: Retrospective study of eight cases and literature review

OBJECTIVE

Oral ulceration with bone sequestration (OUBS) describes a site-specific intraoral ulcer that covers exposed, non-vital bone in patients lacking any etiological factor known to induce osteonecrosis. We aimed to conduct a retrospective study of eight new cases of OUBS and review the literature.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study of OUBS cases, diagnosed and managed during 2007-2017. Inclusion criteria were the presence of oral ulcer with exposed non-vital bone at sites of bone prominence and the absence of any factor known to cause osteonecrosis. The English literature was reviewed on original OUBS cases.

RESULTS

Eight patients (5 males and 3 females, aged 27-75 years) were diagnosed with OUBS during years 2007-2017. Four cases involved the mandibular mylohyoid ridge, one a mandibular anterior exostosis and three the maxillary buccal/palatal exostoses. Exposed bone was removed under local anesthesia, resulting in complete healing in all cases. The literature review yielded 32 OUBS cases in the mandible.

CONCLUSION

Oral ulceration with bone sequestration is a distinct, probably under-reported rather than rare clinical entity that should be regarded the provisional diagnosis in case of an oral ulcer covering exposed, non-vital bone at sites of bone prominence in patients lacking any etiological factor known to induce osteonecrosis.