Non-HPV Papillary Lesions of the Oral Mucosa: Clinical and Histopathologic Features of Reactive and Neoplastic Conditions

Effects of tongue lesions and palatal coverage on oral sensory functions

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Oral stereognosis (OS) plays a significant role in the oral rehabilitation of patients with edentulism, as it influences their adaptation to new prostheses. Because of the essentially tactile characteristic of oral sensory perception, the tongue and palate appear to have a crucial function in OS. However, little is known about the influence of tongue lesions on OS and sensorial function. In addition, controversies remain regarding the role of the palate.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate whether tongue lesions and palatal coverage are disruptive to OS and gustatory function.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seventy participants (mean age=30.7 ±6.7 years) were divided into a tongue lesion group (experimental; n=35) and a control group (n=35). The tongue lesion group included participants with geographic, fissured, or hairy tongue. OS was evaluated with the oral stereognosis ability (OSA) test. Gustatory function was assessed with exposure to flavored solutions. After completing the above tests, the participants received a palate covering device, and then OS and gustatory function were immediately reevaluated. Data were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests (α=.05).

RESULTS

OSA and gustatory function scores did not differ among the tongue lesion and control groups with and without palatal coverage (all P>.05). After palatal coverage, the tongue lesion group took more time to perform the OSA test than the control group (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Neither the presence of tongue lesions nor palatal coverage influenced OS or gustatory function. The OSA test response times were longer for the tongue lesion group after they had received palatal coverage.

Oral Mucosal Lesions in Childhood

Childhood diseases are a continuous source of interest in all areas of general and dental medicine. Congenital, developmental, and hereditary diseases may either be present upon birth or appear in early childhood. Developmental anomalies, although often asymptomatic, may become grounds for different infections. Furthermore, they can indicate certain systemic disorders. Childhood age frequently brings about benign tumors and different types of traumatic lesions to the oral mucosa. Traumatic lesions can be caused by chemical, mechanical, or thermal injury. Mucocele and ranula are, by definition, traumatic injuries of the salivary glands or their ducts. Recurrent aphthous lesions are the most common type of ulcerations in childhood, and their etiology is considered multifactorial. Oral mucosal lesions in children require different treatment approaches depending on etiological factors and clinical presentation. Clinicians should have adequate knowledge of oral anatomy in order to diagnose and treat pathological conditions.

Oral verruciform xanthoma in chronic graft-versus-host disease patients

BACKGROUND

Verruciform xanthoma (VX) is an uncommon benign epithelial lesion which mainly appears in inflamed oral epithelium. In this study, our aim was to present new cases of oral VX (OVX) in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and review the literature.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of cGVHD patients (2012-2019) to reveal cases of OVX. The demographics, medical background, clinical presentation, treatment provided, and follow-up were obtained. Additionally, Medline was searched using the terms "graft-versus-host disease," "verruciform xanthoma," and "oral." Of the articles, the above-mentioned demographic and clinical features were retrieved.

RESULTS

The patient pool included 133 oral cGVHD patients. Three cGVHD patients (males, aged 15-49 years, post-hematologic malignancy) were diagnosed with OVX. All patients had oral mucosal lichenoid lesions, but not in close proximity to the VX lesion. Medline searches revealed 9 cases of OVX in cGVHD patients reported in the literature. Eleven of the 12 patients had oral mucosal lichenoid lesions. Four patients had multiple OVX lesions. All lesions were asymptomatic. Six patients had lesions in the masticatory mucosa (hard palate and gingiva) and 4 patients had lesions in the buccal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest published OVX in cGVHD series, including 12 patients. It appears that despite the higher prevalence in cGVHD patients relative to the general population, OVXs do not necessarily develop in sites with lichenoid lesions. It is advised that clinicians be familiar with the clinical and histological features in order to consider OVX in the differential diagnosis of oral lesions in cGVHD patients.

Oral Verruciform Xanthoma: A Series of 212 Cases and Review of the Literature

Verruciform xanthoma (VX) of the oral cavity is an uncommon, reactive lesion of unknown etiology. In this study, we present a large series of VX with analysis of demographics, clinical appearance, histologic presentation and extensive review of literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest series of oral VX reported to date. Following IRB approval, all cases diagnosed as VX found in the archives of the University of Florida Oral Pathology Biopsy Service (1994-2018) were included. Patient age, gender, location, clinical appearance, clinical impression, and duration of each lesion was collected. A total of 212 cases were included in our database with a mean age of 61 years (range of 9-94), and a female: male ratio of 1.06:1. The most common location in descending order was the gingiva (n = 110, 51.2%), followed by palate (n = 41, 19.3%), buccal mucosa (n = 18, 8.5%), tongue (n = 20, 9.4%), vestibule (n = 13, 6.1%), lip (n = 4, 1.9%), floor of mouth (n = 3, 1.4%), and unspecified (n = 1, 0.5%). The lesions were most frequently pink in color, and most often described as bumpy, rough, verrucoid and/or papillary. Clinical impression in descending order was papillary (n = 67, 31.6%), not specified or unknown (n = 41, 19.3%), hyperkeratosis (n = 24, 11.3%), fibroma (n = 20, 9.4%), leukoplakia (n = 17, 8.0%), dysplastic lesion (n = 13, 6.1%), pyogenic granuloma (n = 7, 3.3%), granulomatous reaction (n = 5, 2.4%), lichen planus, VX (n = 4 each, 2.0%), pigmented, other lesions (n = 3 each, 1.4%), and salivary and periapical lesions (n = 2 each, 0.9%). Three of the lesions were recurrences. The demographics and clinical parameters of this case series were in concordance with that of previously published reports. In our series, only 4 cases were suspected as VX, demonstrating the lack of familiarity clinicians have with this lesion.