Oral Reactive Hyperplastic Lesions: Prevalence in Egypt and Proposal of Novel Classification System

Abstract

Background this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of oral reactive hyperplastic lesions (ORHLs) as well as their distribution in the oral cavity in the Egyptian population over the past 13 years. We also introduced a novel classification system for ORHLs that may help in standardized categorization and better understanding of the nature of these common oral lesions. Methods All the records of histopathologically diagnosed ORHLs over the past 13 years (2011 to 2023) were retrieved from the archives of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. The extracted quantitative data was presented as frequencies and percentages of ORHLs. The proposed classification system has used 2 letters and 1 digit to describe ORHLs considering both the clinical appearance of the lesions as well as their characteristic histopathological patterns. Results ORHLs represented 33% of the total number of diagnosed cases in the tested period (2256/6858 cases). Among the examined types of ORHLs, irritational fibroma was the most encountered type (40%) followed by pyogenic granuloma (25%). Regarding anatomic location, gingiva was the most common site for ORHLs, where more than half of the cases (52%) were reported in it. Conclusion The present study clearly demonstrated the high prevalence of ORHLs as one of the most frequently encountered categories of oral pathology. This highlights the importance of the proposed standardized categorization and consistent description of these common oral lesions based on their clinical appearances and characteristic histopathological findings. This classification enhances the overall knowledge and understanding of ORHLs nature allowing effective communication among healthcare providers as well as accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and research work.