CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ULCER MIMICKING ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA ON THE TONGUE

Abstract

Ulcerations are characterized by defects in the epithelium, underlying connective tissue, or both. Due to a diversity of causative factors and clinical features, diagnosis of oral ulcerative lesions can be quite challenging. Here we present a case of 34-year-old woman, nonsmoker, nondrinker, who had a painful, nonhealing ulcer located on the tongue (right side) that had first appeared 2 months earlier. Intraoral examination revealed an ulcer measuring 4 mm × 2 mm with a fibrous center and hardened margin. Teeth 44 and 45 were pointed, which caused occlusal trauma to the right lateral edge of the tongue. After reviewing the historical case and appropriate clinical examination, the patient was diagnosed with a chronic traumatic ulcer. Thus, smoothing of the cuspids was the chosen treatment of the teeth involved. A gradual decrease of the traumatic ulcer was observed. The patient has been under clinical follow-up without symptomatology for 6 months. Ulcerations are characterized by defects in the epithelium, underlying connective tissue, or both. Due to a diversity of causative factors and clinical features, diagnosis of oral ulcerative lesions can be quite challenging. Here we present a case of 34-year-old woman, nonsmoker, nondrinker, who had a painful, nonhealing ulcer located on the tongue (right side) that had first appeared 2 months earlier. Intraoral examination revealed an ulcer measuring 4 mm × 2 mm with a fibrous center and hardened margin. Teeth 44 and 45 were pointed, which caused occlusal trauma to the right lateral edge of the tongue. After reviewing the historical case and appropriate clinical examination, the patient was diagnosed with a chronic traumatic ulcer. Thus, smoothing of the cuspids was the chosen treatment of the teeth involved. A gradual decrease of the traumatic ulcer was observed. The patient has been under clinical follow-up without symptomatology for 6 months.