Forum for Clinical and Surgical Oral Pathology

Case BBOPF 04-3-5

This is the fifth in a series of five cases submitted by Dr. Jerry Bouquot. Please enter your comments in the form at the bottom of the page. This case was posted from March 26 to April 2, 2004. A summary of the responses will be available in BBOP.

Clinical History

64 year old male with a history of radical surgery and irradiation of the right posterior tongue for well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Periodontally involved molars in the irradiated field were removed 4 years earlier, prior to the radiotherapy. Five weeks ago the patient noted severe pain of the right mandibular molar region beneath a "denture sore" along the crest of the alveolar ridge. The denture sore (traumatic ulcer) did not heal with removal of the partial prosthesis and after 3 weeks pus began to ooze from the wound. After a 2 week course of antibiotics (Amoxicillin, 500 mg qid) several bony sequestrae were removed.

Images

Radiography

Histology

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Case prepared by Dr. Alfredo Aguirre (BBOP Manager) and Daniel Emmer (Web Administrator, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine).