Cohen P R, Eliezri Y D
Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1990 Jul;86(1):123-7. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199007000-00020.
A woman was referred for Mohs' microscopically controlled surgical excision of a presumptive basal cell carcinoma located on her nasolabial fold. During examination, pus was expressed from the nodulocystic lesion and an intraoral palpation revealed a fibrous sinus tract extending from the skin lesion to the gingiva of a severely carious tooth. There was roentgenographic evidence of a periapical abscess. The diagnosis was revised to that of a cutaneous odontogenic sinus. The possibility of a draining dental sinus to the skin should be seriously considered when evaluating a suspected basal cell carcinoma in the perioral region--especially in an individual with a history of extensive dental treatments, antecedent oral trauma, or markedly carious teeth.
