Orofacial Crohn’s Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic disease of the digestive system. It is characterized by lesions predominantly located in the small intestine and colon, although they may also occur in any segment of the gut, including the oral cavity. The involvement of oral mucosa in CD may be underreported, as up to 42% of pediatric patients with CD were found to have oral lesions after undergoing a thorough oral examination. Here, we present a case of CD in which the patient was referred to a dentist due to non-healing aphthous ulcers in the mouth. Our patient, a 16-year-old boy, was admitted to the dentistry clinic with swelling of the oral mucosa and the lips which had been ongoing for 3 months. The patient was referred to our department due to the non-response of the mucosal lesions to repeated cycles of medical treatment. Colonoscopy revealed a cobblestone appearance especially in the left colon, partly normal mucosa, and exudative ulcers. Biopsy samples showed increased inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria and cryptitis in some of the crypts. A close collaboration between gastroenterologists and dentists is useful when addressing the diagnosis and appropriate management of these patients.

Keywords

• crohn’s disease
• oral cavity
• dentist