Gingival telangiectases: an underappreciated physical sign of juvenile dermatomyositis.
BACKGROUND
MEDLINE searches (1966-June 1969) failed to identify references that give detailed descriptions of the oral manifestations of dermatomyositis (DM). However, several reports predating MEDLINE provided more complete descriptions of oral lesions associated with DM.


METHODS
We describe 5 cases of juvenile DM with oral manifestations, primarily in the form of gingival telangiectases. These findings are compared with those descriptions found in earlier reports.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral lesions in juvenile DM have rarely been reported. Mucous membrane involvement associated with DM may include telangiectases, edema, erosions, ulcers, and leukoplakia-like areas. In cases of DM, gingival telangiectases likely represent an underappreciated diagnostic finding analogous to nail-fold telangiectases.
Ghali
F E
FE
Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. fredghali@pol.net
Stein
L D
LD
Fine
J D
JD
Burkes
E J
EJ
McCauliffe
D P
DP
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis*