title: Oral frostbite due to dry ice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dry ice is a commercially available cryogen that is used worldwide. It may cause frostbite if misused. However, frostbite of the oral cavity due to dry ice has not been previously reported. Here, we describe the first case of dry ice-induced frostbite of the oral cavity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of oral frostbite due to dry ice and subsequent swelling of the submandibular area and lower lip. We discuss the clinical features of oral frostbite due to volatile substance abuse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral frostbite not only may result in the impairment of the affected mucosae directly, but also may adversely affect the tissues in the vicinity of the oral cavity floor indirectly. Oral frostbite may cause edema of the upper airway tract. In case of severe pharyngolaryngeal edema, either tracheal intubation or tracheostomy is necessary. Steroids and antibiotics may be effective in preventing the development of pharyngolaryngeal edema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to bear in mind that volatile substance abuse may possibly induce unusual events. In particular, special attention should be paid to delayed unusual events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohki
authors.forename: Jyunichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004367:Dry Ice / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005627:Frostbite / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004367:Dry Ice; D006854:Hydrocortisone