Acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

A 35-year-old man had hemorrhagic bullae of the buccal and sublingual mucosa as the first sign of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Twenty-four hours later the more typical cutaneous manifestations of petechiae of the lower extremities were present. Although it is unusual for the initial symptoms of this disease to be limited to the oral region, the physician and dentist should be keenly aware of the clinical appearance described in this article, as it may be the only clue of an underlying systemic disease.