ORAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH UNDIAGNOSED VITAMIN-B-12 DEFICIENCY

The oral manifestations of glossitis, stomatitis and mucosal ulceratio n in vitamin Bit deficiency have long been recognised. These oral chan ges may occur in the absence of symptomatic anaemia or of macrocytosis . The aim of this paper is to describe a retrospective study of the wi de range of oral signs and symptoms reported by 14 patients found to h ave a previously undiagnosed vitamin B-12 deficiency. None of the pati ents described in this study had generalised symptoms sufficiently adv anced to arouse suspicions of vitamin B-12 deficiency. The essential c riteria for the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia are also discussed.