Pyostomatitis vegetans. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Pyostomatitis vegetans (PV) is a rare benign chronic mucocutaneous pustular disorder of unknown etiology, though it is usually associated with chronic inflammatory disease of the bowel-particularly ulcerative colitis. At the oral level PV manifests as an exophytic lesion with an erythematous perimeter and a creamy-yellow surface presenting a friable covering membrane which easily disintegrates, giving rise to the development of small ulcers or superficial erosions. The histology shows epithelial acanthosis and superficial ulceration. The underlying connective tissue exhibits neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration, with miliary abscesses in some cases. The present study describes 2 cases of PV associated with ulcerative colitis. The differential diagnosis should be established with Neumann type pemphigus vegetans, since in both cases the lesions are clinically similar and the histology reveals an important eosinophil response, acanthosis, and the formation of intraepithelial miliary microabscesses. The treatment of PV focuses on control of the disease. In the event the orofacial lesions persist, topical oral drugs such as corticoids, with additional antibiotherapy, multivitamin complexes, and nutritional supplements, can be provided.