Figure 5
From: Oral lichenoid lesions: distinguishing the benign from the deadly
Mucous membrane pemphigoid presenting as desquamative gingivitis similar to the atrophic form of oral lichen planus. This is one of the most common clinical presentations of oral mucous membrane pemphigoid but can also be seen in pemphigus vulgaris and oral lichen planus (a). Histopathological features of mucous membrane pemphigoid, showing characteristic sub-epithelial clefting (arrow) (b, H&E stain, original magnification × 100). Unlike oral lichen planus, the basal cells are intact (arrow) and the superficial lamina propria contains a sparse to moderate inflammatory cell infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes and plasma cells. (c, H&E stain, original magnification × 400). Direct immunofluorescence of perilesional tissue from a patient with mucous membrane pemphigoid demonstrates a continuous linear band of IgG at the basement membrane zone (BMZ, arrows) (d).
