Oral metal contact allergy: a pilot study on the cause of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Abstract
Intraoral metal contact allergy may result in mucositis that mimics lichen planus and the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical records of all patients examined in the departments of dermatology and otorhinolaryngology at a tertiary-care academic medical center between June 1994 and June 2000 who had a diagnosis of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma adjacent to a metal dental restoration and who were patch tested with our metal series were reviewed retrospectively. Eleven patients met the inclusion criteria. Ten patients (91%) had positive patch tests to metals. In eight (73%), the oral cancer was adjacent to a dental restoration containing a metal to which the patient was allergic. Prevalence of gold, mercury, silver, and copper allergy among these patients was substantially higher than that reported in the available worldwide patch-test clinic population. Contact allergy to metal dental restorations may be a risk factor for development of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma.
References
The high risk human papillomaviruses and oral cancer: evidence for and against a causal relationship
Evidence for a causal association between human papillomavirus and a subset of head and neck cancers
Citations
Potentially malignant disorders of the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa; present concepts of management
Related Concepts
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
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