Langerhans' cell histiocytosis restricted to the oral mucosa

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis comprises a group of disorders with Langerhans' cell proliferation as a common feature. The clinical presentation might be highly varied. Typically, there is bone involvement and, less frequently, lesions might be found in other organs, particularly the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, skin, and mucosae. Lesions limited to the oral mucosa are rare. We describe two patients with unifocal eosinophilic granuloma exclusively limited to the oral mucosa. Triamcinolone acetonide infiltration of a palatal lesion yielded a good result in one patient. Six months later, a similar lesion developed in the mandibular gingival mucosa, but it responded to the same treatment. The lesion in the other patient responded to local radiotherapy.