[The nonhealing of the buccal mucosa after tooth extraction. Apropos a case of histiocytosis X].

We report a case of eosinophilic granuloma falsely diagnosed as a radicular cyst in a 28-year-old patient. Between August 1996 and June 1997, successful extraction [correction of avulsion] of teeth 36 and 37 was followed by non-healing of the mucosa in the corresponding sockets. Three bone biopsies were needed to establish the diagnosis of histiocytosis X. In case of non-healing of the intraoral mucosa after tooth extraction [correction of avulsion], the first step is to rule out a malignant tumor. A clinical and radiographic work-up as well as biopsy are needed. Less common conditions such as tuberculosis or histiocytosis X requiring specific treatment can be diagnosed by pathology.