Reactive lesion of the gingiva - Report of a case

Abstract

Objective: Peripheral ossifying fibroma, a reactive gingival disorder known under the generic term of epulis, is widely considered to originate from the cells of the periodontal ligament. Local irritation and minor trauma are the precipitating factors.
Methods: A 21-year-old man presented with a well-circumscribed, firm pedunculated exophytic tumor measuring 1.5cm x1cm in size, without ulceration. The lesion had developed three months before in the marginal gingiva upto middle third of the clinical crown of 11. No radiological signs of involvement of the alveolar ridge were observed.
Results: The histological study of the specimen after simple resection with a cold scalpel confirmed the diagnosis of peripheral ossifying fibroma.
Conclusion: In addition to presenting this new case of peripheral ossifying fibroma, the present study comments on the predisposing factors and treatment options, makes an attempt on clarification of its terminology and suggests the importance of this disorder in the differential diagnosis of gingival lesions.

KEYWORDS: Differential diagnosis, fibroma, , odontogenic tumors