Numerous noninfectious conditions that affect the oral mucosa often present similarly as ulcerations, erythema, or plaques in addition to infectious causes. These include immune-mediated diseases like pemphigus vulgaris, mucous membrane pemphigoid, Behçet disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as potentially malignant conditions like leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral lichen planus. Actinic cheilitis, oral submucous fibrosis, and graft-versus-host disease are among the other conditions that exhibit distinct oral features with systemic implications. Since many lesions may indicate malignancy or systemic disease, accurate clinical and histopathological evaluation is necessary for diagnosis. Improved patient outcomes are made possible by prompt intervention and early recognition.
Cite this paper
Benhaioun, H. , Fahim, O. , Haitami, S. and Yahya, I. B. (2025). A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing Oral Mucosal Lesions: Part III. Noninfectious Processes. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e13534. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113534.
Wetzel, S.L. and Wollenberg, J. (2020) Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders. Dental Clinics of North America, 64, 25-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2019.08.004
Diebold, S. and Overbeck, M. (2019) Soft Tissue Disorders of the Mouth. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 37, 55-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.006
Warnakulasuriya, S. (2018) Clinical Features and Presentation of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 125, 582-590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2018.03.011
Warnakulasuriya, S., Kujan, O., Aguirre‐Urizar, J.M., Bagan, J.V., González‐Moles, M.á., Kerr, A.R., et al. (2020) Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: A Consensus Report from an International Seminar on Nomenclature and Classification, Convened by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Cancer. Oral Diseases, 27, 1862-1880. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13704
Alrashdan, M.S., Cirillo, N. and McCullough, M. (2016) Oral Lichen Planus: A Literature Review and Update. Archives of Dermatological Research, 308, 539-551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-016-1667-2
Kumari, P., Debta, P. and Dixit, A. (2022) Oral Poten-tially Malignant Disorders: Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Transformation into Oral Cancer. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, Article 825266. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.825266
Chiang, C., Yu-Fong Chang, J., Wang, Y., Wu, Y., Lu, S. and Sun, A. (2018) Oral Lichen Planus-Differential Diagnoses, Serum Autoantibodies, Hematinic Deficiencies, and Management. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 117, 756-765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2018.01.021
Al-Hashimi, I., Schift-er, M., Lockhart, P.B., Wray, D., Brennan, M., Migliorati, C.A., et al. (2007) Oral Lichen Planus and Oral Lichenoid Lesions: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Considerations. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontolo-gy, 103, S25.e1-S25.e12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tripleo.2006.11.001
Hamour, A.F., Klieb, H. and Eskander, A. (2020) Oral Lichen Planus. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192, E892-E892. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.200309
Vail, M., Robinson, S. and Condon, H. (2020) Recognition of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Transformation to Oral Cancer. JAAPA, 33, 14-18. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jaa.0000718268.52634.59
Parakh, M.K., Ulaganambi, S., Ashifa, N., Premkumar, R. and Jain, A.L. (2020) Oral potentially Malignant Disorders: Clinical Diagnosis and Current Screening Aids: A Narrative Review. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 29, 65-72. https://doi.org/10.1097/cej.0000000000000510
Khamis, A., Salzer, L., Schiegnitz, E., Stauber, R.H. and Gül, D. (2023) The Magic Triangle in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptor, and Malignancy. Inter-national Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, Article 15058. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015058
Stoopler, E.T. and Sollecito, T.P. (2014) Oral Mucosal Diseases: Evaluation and Management. Medical Clinics of North America, 98, 1323-1352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2014.08.006
Saccucci, M., Di Carlo, G., Bossù, M., Giovarruscio, F., Salucci, A. and Polimeni, A. (2018) Autoimmune Diseases and Their Manifestations on Oral Cavity: Diagnosis and Clinical Management. Journal of Immunology Research, 2018, Article ID: 6061825. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6061825
Baglama, š., Trčko, K., Rebol, J. and Miljković, J. (2018) Oral Manifes-tations of Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases. Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina Pannonica et Adriatica, 27, 9-16. https://doi.org/10.15570/actaapa.2018.3
Rashid, H., Lamberts, A., Diercks, G.F.H., Pas, H.H., Meijer, J.M., Bolling, M.C., et al. (2019) Oral Lesions in Autoimmune Bullous Diseases: An Overview of Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Algorithm. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 20, 847-861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-019-00461-7
Lynch, M.A., Brightman, V.J., Greenberg, M.S., et al. (1985) Burket’s Oral Medicine: Diagnosis and Treatment. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 43, p. 316.
Mays, J.W., Sarmadi, M. and Moutsopoulos, N.M. (2012) Oral Mani-festations of Systemic Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases: Diagnosis and Clinical Management. Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice, 12, 265-282. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1532-3382(12)70051-9
Swinson, B., Witherow, H., Norris, P. and Lloyd, T. (2004) Oral Manifestations of Systemic Diseases. Hospital Medicine, 65, 92-99. https://doi.org/10.12968/hosp.2004.65.2.12067
Samim, F., Auluck, A., Zed, C. and Williams, P.M. (2013) Erythema Multiforme: A Review of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Fea-tures, and Treatment. Dental Clinics of North America, 57, 583-596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2013.07.001
García-Ríos, P., Pecci-Lloret, M.P. and Oñate-Sánchez, R.E. (2022) Oral Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, Article 11910. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911910
Benli, M., Batool, F., Stutz, C., Petit, C., Jung, S. and Huck, O. (2020) Orofacial Manifestations and Dental Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Re-view. Oral Diseases, 27, 151-167. https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.13271