Assessment of reactive gingival lesions of oral cavity: A histopathological study

• Published in: Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 180
• Main Authors: Hunasgi, Santosh, Koneru, Anila, Vanishree, M, Manvikar, Vardendra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2017; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Age; Atrophy; Care and treatment; Dental calculus; Dental cement; Development and progression; Forecasts and trends; Gender; Giant cells; Gingiva; Granuloma; Granulomas; Heavy chains; Hyperplasia; Immunoglobulins; Inflammation; Insulin-like growth factors; Medical statistics; Mineralization; Mouth diseases; Oral cavity; Original; inflammatory gingival hyperplasia; Gingival reactive lesions; histopathology; peripheral ossifying fibroma; pyogenic granuloma; irritational fibroma; peripheral giant cell granuloma
• ISSN: 0973-029X; 1998-393X
• DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_23_16

In the literature, many studies were attempted to analyze the distribution of oral reactive lesions in terms of age, gender and location. However, very few studies have focused on the detailed histopathological features of these reactive lesions of oral cavity. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to document the occurrence, distribution and various histopathological features of reactive gingival lesions. This study is a retrospective archival review of reactive gingival lesions of oral cavity such as irritational fibroma (IF), inflammatory gingival hyperplasia (IGF), pyogenic granuloma (PG), peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) and peripheral ossifying fibroma involving gingival tissues. All the cases were histopathologically reviewed on some microscopical parameters according to the criteria given by Peralles . Regarding epithelial morphology, atrophy, ulceration and hyperplasia were found predominantly in PG. Connective tissue was predominantly dense in IGF and IF with fibroblastic proliferation; whereas loose connective tissue was seen in PG. Vascular proliferation, especially capillary, was commonly present in PG and inflammatory gingival hyperplasia (IGH). Inflammatory cell infiltrate was intense in both PG and IGH. Mineralization showed a marked affinity for peripheral cement-ossifying fibroma, and bone/bone-like areas were found in about ten cases of them. The Foreign body type of multinucleated giant cells was found exclusively on PGCG. Despite their clinical similarities, the findings of this study reports that all reactive gingival lesions show some differences in age, type, location, duration and histopathological features. Nevertheless, the differing histological pictures are a range of a single lesion in diverse stages of maturation. Essential in the treatment of reactive lesions is the total removal of the lesion with local irritants such as defective restorations or calculus formation.