Abstract
Pemphigus vegetans is a subtype of pemphigus vulgaris and a rare autoimmune disease. We report a case of pemphigus vegetans that was clinically difficult to distinguish from carcinoma of the lower gingiva, because bone destruction was noted on X ray.
A 49-year-old man visited our hospital with a swelling of the left lower gingiva. At the first medical examination, he had a 24×16 mm mass of the left lower gingiva, part of which was ulcerated. Bone destruction of the mandible was revealed on X ray. Computed tomography and ultrasonography revealed increased size of cervical lymph nodes. Pathological examination of a biopsy revealed pemphigus vegetans. However, since we could not rule out malignant tumor, resection of the lesion was performed under general anesthesia. The histopathological diagnosis was pemphigus vegetans. The patient's postoperative course was satisfactory, but since there is a possibility of symptoms occurring in other locations, long-term observation is required.
