A case of migratory stomatitis in a young male patient: Management and differential diagnosis

Migratory stomatitis (MS) is an uncommon inflammatory condition with unclarified etiology, which despite its benign nature, may raise concerns for patients and diagnostic difficulties for professionals. This case report aims to describe the clinical features of a patient who presented with MS in conjunction with benign migratory glossitis (BMG), and its diagnostic process and management. The patient, a 25-year-old man, sought diagnosis of an oral condition, with cyclic behavior, which had been causing him great discomfort for a year. The patient presented erythematous patches on his lower lips and right side of the buccal mucosa, surrounded by a slightly elevated halo with a concomitant classical picture of BMG. After analysis of his entire symptomatology, the diagnosis of MS associated with BMG was concluded. The patient received clear explanations and symptomatic treatment. The diagnosis of MS may be challenging, even to oral medicine practitioners, especially if it occurs alone. MS with concurrent manifestation of BMG may make the conditions easier to diagnose, but it does not exclude the need to apply a complete process of differential diagnosis to rule out other similar possibilities.