Crohn`s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can involve the whole gastrointestinal tract. The orofacial manifestation of Crohn`s disease, which is rare, can develop irrespective of intestinal involvement. These orofacial lesions are o...
Crohn`s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can involve the whole gastrointestinal tract. The orofacial manifestation of Crohn`s disease, which is rare, can develop irrespective of intestinal involvement. These orofacial lesions are often misdiagnosed as simple oral ulcers. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy for orofacial Crohn`s disease. However, infliximab, the chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor-α, is now considered as a primary treatment because of the disease`s relatively high rate of steroid resistance. We present a case of deep oral ulcer and periorbital swelling in a 65-year-old woman. She was diagnosed with intestinal Crohn`s disease 7 years ago, which was in remission after treatment with an immunosuppressive agent (azathioprine). The patient was given the diagnosed with orofacial Crohn`s disease and successfully treated with infliximab. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2012;59:437-440)