Absence of Helicobacter pylori in oral mucosal lesions

A prospective study was conducted in 26 patients with benign oral ulcers and oral carcinoma and 26 age and sex matched controls to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in oral mucosal biopsies. Oral mucosal biopsies were subjected to rapid urease test, campylobacter like organism (CLO) test, histopathological examination and bacteriological culture for demonstration of H pylori. Urease test was positive for H pylori in 3 (11.4%) out of 26 cases and CLO test in 2 (14%) out of 14 cases. On histology, H pylori was identified in 4 (15.38%) out of 26 cases. The spiral organism was universally absent in culture of both patients and controls. These pilot data negate the casual association of H pylori in oral mucosal lesions.