There is presently no line of distinction between oral lichen planus and other oral lichenoid lesions. The aim of this study is to determine using histomorphometry, the differences between these lesions. Paraffin sections from 7 normal buccal epithelium, 19 oral lichen planus (LP), 14 oral lichenoid lesions (LL) and 7 discoid lupus erythematosus-like lesions (DLE-II) were selected. The nuclear volume (VN) and cellular-volume (VCELL) of the epithelium were assessed using an image analyser. The VN and VCELL derived for both basal and spinal strata in LP and DLE-II were 2.3 times more than that of normal tissues. There was a significant difference between LP and LL (P < 0.005) and between LL and DLE-II (P < 0.001), but not between LP and DLE-II. In conclusion, there appears to be a difference between LP, LL and DLE-II and VN and VCELL may serve as potential discriminators between these groups of lesions. (J.

Necrotizing periodontal disease and necrotizing stomatitis are a group of necrotizing diseases involving different structures of the oral cavity. Necrotizing periodontal disease includes necrotizing periodontitis and necrotizing gingivitis. It involves destruction of the supporting periodontium leading to premature tooth loss. Necrotizing stomatitis destroys soft tissue in the oral cavity and its underlying connective tissue, leaving behind a raw area which predisposes it to infection. This case report presents a case of necrotizing stomatitis preceded by necrotizing periodontitis in a well-nourished individual whose only concern was psychological stress and lack of sleep. These diseases are commonly seen in HIV-seropositive or immune-compromised individuals. They are uncommon in well-nourished individuals who are systemically healthy. In this case, the complex role of psychological stress and sleep deprivation may have played a role in poor healing. The patient made an uneventful recovery as stress levels declined over time.