Two Cases of Oral Somatic Delusions Ameliorated With Brain Perfusion Asymmetry: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Oral cenesthopathy is the complaint of abnormal oral sensation where no underlying organic cause can be identified. It is also called oral dysesthesia or oral somatic delusion and classified as delusional disorder, somatic type. The patients with oral cenesthopathy show right > left asymmetric regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the broad brain region. However, the studies scrutinizing the rCBF change before and after the successful treatment are still a few so far. CASE: We present 2 cases of oral cenesthopathy, who responded well to aripiprazole. The asymmetric rCBF patterns were attenuated after successful treatment in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: We found a marked improvement of oral cenesthopathy with aripiprazole. It is suggested that right > left rCBF asymmetry in the frontal and temporal lobes and thalamus, and the dopaminergic and serotonergic dysfunctions are involved in the pathology of oral cenesthopathy.