Congenital epulis: a case report

Abstract

Congenital epulis is a rare and benign tumor affecting the oral cavity which is predominantly observed in female infants. It originates from the gingival mucosa and its size varies from few millimeters to few centimeters. While spontaneous regression is possible, larger congenital epulis lesions can lead to airway obstruction and feeding difficulty, which is why surgical excision is considered the treatment of choice. Our study sheds light on this condition, presenting the management done to a two-day-old female newborn diagnosed with an epulis originating from the anterior maxillary alveolar ridge at birth. The mass was successfully excised under general anesthesia, leading to a positive outcome as evidenced by the return to regular feeding on the first postoperative day. Histological examination verified the presence of large polygonal granular cells with granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and round central nuclei which confirms the diagnosis of congenital epulis. This case underscores the importance of early recognition and multidisciplinary collaboration in managing congenital epulis to ensure favorable outcomes.