Oral manifestations of Crohn disease: update of the literature and report of case.

Crohn disease, a devastating chronic illness, often develops in the childhood years. The disease is a segmental transmural intestinal disease that may involve one or more segments of the gut from the mouth to the anus. Crohn disease is frequently confused with ulcerative colitis. Frequent oral manifestations include persistent oral ulcerations, diffuse gingival swelling, mucosal hyperplasia and fissuring, cheilitis, and pyostomatitis vegetans. Frequently, oral biopsy is essential in establishing a correct diagnosis of the disease. Although no cure is currently available for the Crohn disease, the proper diagnosis of the problem is essential for providing symptomatic relief. A case report is presented documenting the value of the proper diagnosis of the disease. The literature is reviewed and updated.