Pathoma Oral Cavity

Question 1

cleft lip and palate

Answer 1

*full-thickness defect of lip or palate
*due to FAILURE of FACIAL PROMINENCES TO FUSE:
-during early pregnancy, facial prominences (1 from superior, 2 from the sides, and 2 from inferior) grow and fuse together to form the face
*cleft lip and palate usually occur together

Question 2

aphthous ulcer

Answer 2

*painful, superficial ulceration of oral mucosa
*arises in relation to stress and resolves spontaneously, but often recurs
*characterized by a grayish base surrounded by erythema

Question 3

Behcet syndrome

Answer 3

*recurrent aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, AND uveitis (all 3 required)
*due to immune complex vasculitis involving small vessels
*can be seen after viral infection, but etiology is unknown

Question 4

oral herpes

Answer 4

*vesicles involving the oral mucosa that rupture, resulting in shallow, painful, red ulcers
*usually due to HSV-1
*primary infection occurs in childhood; lesions heal, but virus remains DORMANT IN THE GANGLIA OF THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE
*stress & sunlight cause reactivation of the virus, leading to vesicles that often arise on the lips (cold sore)

Question 5

squamous cell carcinoma (of the oral cavity)

Answer 5

*malignant neoplasm of squamous cells lining the oral mucous
*tobacco & alcohol are major risk factors
*floor of mouth is most common location
*oral leukoplakia (white plaque that you cannot scrape away) and erythroplakia are precursor lesions

Question 6

hairy leukoplakia

Answer 6

*a white, rough (“hairy”) patch that arises on the LATERAL tongue
*usually seen in immunocompromised individuals
*due to EBV-induced squamous cell hyperplasia; not pre-malignant

Question 7

oral candidiasis

Answer 7

*a white deposit on the tongue
*EASILY scraped away
*usually seen in immunocompromised individuals
*aka thrush

Question 8

erythroplakia

Answer 8

*red plaque
*represents vascularized leukoplakia
*highly suggestive of squamous cell dysplasia