title: Diagnostic pathways and clinical significance of desquamative gingivitis.
abstract: The term desquamative gingivitis (DG) refers to a clinical manifestation that can be caused by several disorders. Many of them are immunologically mediated; in addition to the oral cavity, they can affect extraoral mucocutaneous sites, e.g., larynx, conjunctiva, esophagus, nasal and genital mucosa, and the skin. The degree of oral, periodontal, and systemic involvement determines the overall morbidity and, sometimes, the mortality of these disorders. We comprehensively review disorders commonly associated with DG and highlight diagnostic pathways, guidelines for differential diagnosis, and oral, periodontal, and systemic implications. More rare conditions are reviewed as well. Mucous membrane pemphigoid, oral lichen planus, and pemphigus vulgaris are responsible for the majority of cases of DG. In addition, other uncommon disorders should be considered. Accurate clinical, histologic, and serologic investigations are often required to differentiate among DG-associated disorders, provide adequate therapy, and improve the prognosis of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Oral Medicine Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. lorusso.lucio@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Russo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guiglia
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciavarella
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Liberto
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campisi
mesh_terms: D001768:Blister / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000175:diagnosis; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis