Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare Oral Lesion: Oral Focal Mucinosis

Abstract

Focal gingival lesions are quite commonly encountered by general dental practitioners. These gingival growths may range from being reactive lesions like inflammatory hyperplasia to malignant growths. Hence, histopathological examination and diagnosis of all these lesions on excision are mandatory. One such uncommon tumor-like growth of the gingiva is Oral Focal Mucinosis (OFM). It is a rare lesion originally reported by Tomich in 1974. Clinically, it mimics the common benign oral tumors of the gingiva. Only while grossing of the specimen, the first indication of it being an OFM with a differential diagnosis of myxoma is evident. Histopathological examination and special stains help in the final diagnosis. Currently, considered to be a degenerative change in a reactive lesion, simple excision has been the line of treatment with a good prognosis. Through these case reports we attempt to make this lesion familiar to the practicing dentists.