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Benign Lumps and Bumps

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Dental Science for the Medical Professional

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Abstract

Oral soft tissue masses are encountered commonly in practice and can pose a diagnostic challenge. The best approach to differentiating between oral lumps and bumps is to take a disciplined diagnostic approach: a thorough clinical history, examination, and assessment of potential triggering events. Fortunately, most oral masses are benign and result from either a local reactive hyperplastic response to chronic irritation and occasionally may represent a benign neoplasm (sporadic or in the setting of an underlying syndrome). Malignant neoplasms are uncommon and are not discussed in this chapter. Nodules that arise secondary to local reactive factors are the result of either acute inflammation (abscesses), chronic inflammation (granulomatous stomatitis), or a manifestation of granulation tissue responses. The section on granulation tissue-related masses will cover the following: hyperplasia—pyogenic granuloma and other gingival nodules; organization—irritation fibroma; containment—mucoceles. A few soft tissue cysts and other cyst-like entities are discussed. Some oral masses may represent benign neoplasms, a result of genetic deregulation. The most common benign neoplasm in the oral cavity is the viral wart. The section on human papillomavirus-related warts discusses the pathogenesis of low-risk HPV strains HPV6, 11, 2, 4, 40, 13, and 31, and their association with squamous papilloma, verruca vulgaris, and multifocal epithelial hyperplasia. Select, relatively common, benign neoplasms arising from mesenchymal and other tissues are also discussed: neural and perineural, adipocytic, and salivary gland tissue. In conclusion, tumors of vascular tissue are discussed; the differences between true hemangiomas and vascular malformation are reviewed. Regardless of etiology, clinicians encountering a benign oral lump or bump should be able to compare the salient features of a benign process and compare them to that of malignant neoplasms to guide their patients properly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    Easwar Natarajan

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  1. Easwar Natarajan
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Correspondence to Easwar Natarajan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Quinnipiac University, Frank H Netter MD School of Medicine, North Haven, CT, USA

    Christine E. Niekrash

  2. Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA

    Elie M. Ferneini

  3. Surgery, Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial, Carmel, IN, USA

    Michael T. Goupil

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Natarajan, E. (2023). Benign Lumps and Bumps. In: Niekrash, C.E., Ferneini, E.M., Goupil, M.T. (eds) Dental Science for the Medical Professional. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38567-4_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38567-4_16

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