Case for diagnosis. Palate perforation due to cocaine use^*

Abstract:

We report a 42-year-old cocaine addicted female patient referred for evaluation of hard palate ulceration resulting in oro-sinus communication with difficulties in swallowing and phonation, an rhino-sinusitis. Acrylic and removable silicone prosthesis was prescribed to relieve severe functional disorders. It is essential that the patient permanently abandons cocaine use to perform surgical reconstruction.

Keywords:
Cleft palate; Cocaine; Oral fistula; Palatal obturators; Palate; Palate, hard

CASE REPORT

A 42-year-old woman with a hard palate with mucosal and bone destruction, with nasal regurgitation and rhinolalia, was treated with oral antibiotics with no result. Background: cocaine by inhalation (2g / day) for 15 months, and stopped consuming three years ago because of its buconasal fistula. Physical examination of the oral cavity presents a palate perforation, oval of 4 by 3cm, net limits, asymptomatic (Figure 1). Saddle nose, widening of the tip and destruction of the nasal septum (Figure 2).

Figure 1
Large ulcer in the hard palate

Figure 2
Saddle nose with widened nasal tip

Routine exams were normal.

A biopsy specimen from the nasal mucosa displayed ulceration and granulomatous inflammation with suppurative pattern suggestive of a benign inflammatory process. Computed axial tomography of the craniofacial mass in the coronal section shows an absence of the nasal septum, turbinates, and internal wall of the right maxillary sinuswithsubtotal destructionofthehard palate(Figure 3). An acrylic and removable silicone prosthesis the patient was referred for treatment of the addiction (Figure 4).

Figure 3
CT (coronal section): absence of nasal septum, turbinates, and internal wall of the right maxillary sinus; partial destruction of the hard palate

Figure 4
Silicone and acrilic palate prosthesis

DISCUSSION

Cocaine is a crystalline alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erytroxylum coca) that contains psychoactive properties by direct sympathomimetic action. The cocaine-induced damage is multifactorial; multifactorial; it causes a vasoconstricting a vasoconstricting effect that produces ischemia and an anesthetic effect on the mucosa, while chronic inhalation produces necrosis and infection of osteocartilaginous tissues. As a result of chronic inhalation (nasal use), it causes rhinitis, epistaxis, perforation of the nasal septum, destruction of the lateral wall of the nose and perforation of the palate with oronasal communication. The diagnosis of cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions (CIMDL) requires two of the following signs: 1) Perforation of the nasal septum; 2) Destruction of the nasal lateral wall; and 3) involvement or perforation of the hard palate. These lesions should be differentiated from Wegener's granulomatosis, NK T-lymphoma, actinomycosis, and tertiary syphilis. Nasal septum perforation in cocaine users is asymptomatic and tolerated but the oronasal fistula produces rhinolalia and passage of liquids and solids to the nose. Women are more susceptible to perforate the palate and to develop a greater inflammatory impairment of the connective, carilaginous and bone tissues than man. It is essential for the patient to definitively abandon cocaine use in order to consider the reconstruction.

• *
  Work performed at the Departament of Dermatology of Hospital General de Agudos Enrique Tornú, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Financial support: none.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Nov-Dec 2017

History

• Received
  20 Apr 2017
• Accepted
  19 May 2017