[Mandibular resorption, an underdiagnosed manifestation of systemic scleroderma]

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is sometimes associated with bone resorption that can reach the mandible.

We report here the cases of two women (aged 47 and 57 years) with SSc diagnosed 13 and 26 years earlier, respectively. Both presented marked mandibular bone resorption. The first had prominent interstitial lung disease, and the second, who died within a few months, had severe left ventricular dysfunction due to SSc.

Mandibular resorption is a rare but probably underdiagnosed manifestation of SSc. In addition to its esthetic effects, it can cause severe disability.