Oral Focal Mucinosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Oral focal mucinosis is a rare clinicopathological entity that represents the mucosal counterpart of cutaneous focal mucinosis or cutaneous myxoid cyst. The aetiology is unknown. Oral focal mucinosis is most common in young adults. The gingiva is the most common site and the hard palate is the second most common location. A 19-year-old male patient presented with a 2 cm painless mass localized to the palatal side. An excisional biopsy was taken and sent for histopathologic evaluation to our department. Histopathologic findings were a well-circumscribed lesion composed of myxomatous connective tissue that contained bipolar, fusiform or stellate shaped fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to bring oral focal musinosis diagnosis to the attention of clinicians and pathologists when considering the differential diagnosis of gingival and palatal nodules.