A case of microstomia caused by swallowing caustic soda is presented.  A 54-year old man developed a progressive stricture of the circumoral region following accidental ingestion of caustic soda when he was 9 years old.  He was treated by a general surgeon who performed bilateral commissurotomies when he was 19 years old and lived normally until he needed major dental prosthetic treatment.  His dentist was unable to perform the treatment due to the mouth stricture.  The surgical option was to perform bilateral buccal mucosal flaps.

A review of the literature and the surgical technique are presented.

Keywords:  Microstomia, contractures of circumoral tissues, hypertrophic scarring, ectropion, cheiloplasty

Citation:  Martins WD, Westphalen FH, Westphalen VPD.  Microstomia Caused by Swallowing of Caustic Soda:  Report of a Case.  J Contemp Dent Pract 2003 November;(4)4:091-099.