Oral sarcoidosis aiding in diagnosis of underlying systemic disease

Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystemic, granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology characterised by the formation of non-caseating granuloma. It shows slight female predominance and has a bimodal age distribution. Lungs, skin, eye and liver are commonly affected. The oral lesion, though uncommon, may present as submucosal nodule, papule or superficial ulceration. Occasionally, oral lesion may be the first manifestation of underlying systemic disease. This case is interesting because it emphasises that dental practitioners may play a key role in early recognition of the clinical presentation of this multifaceted disease, and thereby aid in the diagnosis of the systemic condition. The present report deals with a case of sarcoidosis affecting the buccal mucosa in a 48-year-old woman. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and within 4 months of corticosteroid therapy, the oral lesion regressed with no recurrence or new lesion noted over a period of 1 year.