Oral Cutaneous Fistula

Excerpt

Oral cutaneous fistula (OCF) is a rare extraoral path of infection that communicates the oral cavity and the skin. In medical and dental literature, the terms fistulas and sinus tracts are often used to describe the same condition. Chronic dental infections, trauma, dental implant complications, salivary gland lesions, and neoplasms are the most common causes of oral cutaneous fistulas. Affected patients usually seek help from dermatologists or surgeons rather than from dentists. As the clinical manifestations of OCF are generally scarce and often nonspecific, the diagnosis of OCF requires a high degree of suspicion. Odontogenic cutaneous fistulas have an excellent prognosis when treatment initiates promptly. Otherwise, oral cutaneous fistulas associated with malignancies can lead to complications and may be life-threatening.