Oral manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: a guide to examination

Abstract

Orofacial symptoms are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They may present as a primary manifestation of the disease in the oral cavity with oral Crohn’s disease, or as a secondary manifestation of the disease such as iron deficiency, or due to side effects to medications used in treatment. Orofacial manifestations of IBD may result in significant morbidity which can impact patients’ quality of life. Systematic examination and a timely diagnosis are fundamental in initiating appropriate management. This article provides a guide for gastroenterologists to systematically perform an extraoral and intraoral examination of the orofacial region. The extraoral examination includes evaluation of lymph nodes, lips and perioral skin. Common extraoral features of IBD include lip swelling, lip fissuring, angular cheilitis, perioral erythema and cervicofacial lymphadenopathy. The intraoral examination involves a systematic inspection of all areas of the oral cavity. Intraoral IBD features include ulceration, cobblestoning of the buccal mucosa, gingival erythema and mucosal tags. Examining the orofacial region is important in the complete assessment of patients with IBD, to diagnose orofacial conditions, to initiate tailored treatments and to identify those patients who would benefit from input from oral medicine specialists.