Multifocal Epithelial Hyperplasia: Clinical Diagnosis of an Uncommon Oral Mucosal Lesion. A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia (MEH) or Heck’s disease is an uncommon oral mucosa disease caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) especially subtypes 13 or 32. It is contagious with a tendency to be transmitted to other family members. There is geographic regional variation in the frequency of occurrence of this condition. A careful clinical examination is required to arrive at the diagnosis. Histopathological review however can help to confirm the diagnosis of MEH. Molecular biology techniques like PCR or ISH are useful in isolating the HPV subtypes involved.

Objective: This report aims to highlight the clinical features of MEH for accurate clinical diagnosis by Dental and Medical practitioners

Case Report: A documentation of a case of a 6-year-old Efik, Nigerian male child with extensive multiple oral mucosa lesion of 2 years duration. The diagnosis of this case was based on the clinical presentation. The presence of multiple painless pink to whitish oral mucosa papules and nodules on the lips, labial and buccal mucosa was seen and a diagnosis of Multifocal Epithelial Hyperplasia was made.

Conclusion: We report a case of MEH, a rare benign oral mucosal lesion in a 6-year-old male of the Efik ethnic group in the south-south zone of Nigeria who presented with a 2year history of multiple lesions in the oral mucosa. It is important for Dental and Medical practitioners to be aware of this rare condition.

Keywords: Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia, diagnosis