Image Description
Location: Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) occurs almost exclusively on the gingiva with a slight predilection for the maxillary arch. More than 50% of all cases arise from the interdental papilla between the lateral incisor and canine teeth.
Appearance: It is a sessile or pedunculated, mucosa-covered, pink-red mass, usually measuring 1-2 cm in size. The surface is commonly ulcerated and such cases may be mistaken for a pyogenic granuloma. Lesions with intact pink mucosa resemble irritation fibromas. The adjacent teeth are usually unaffected, although there may be migration or loosening in rare cases.
Age Group: POF is usually seen in teenagers and young adults with peak prevalence in the 10-19 yr. age group. There is a strong female predilection.
Case History: The photograph shows a recurrent POF in a 29 y/o female. The lesion had been resected 7 years back and recurred within 3 months after surgery. Over several years, it gradually increased to its current size. There was intermittent pain and discomfort associated with chewing food. Intra-oral examination revealed a 1.0 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm sessile, non-tender, firm to hard, erythematous growth on the interdental gingiva in the mandibular right lateral incisor-cuspid region. The diagnosis of POF was confirmed on the excised specimen. Case courtesy of: Dr. Ishita Singhal, Dept. of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Sciences, Universita degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; and Dr. Geetpriya Kaur, Director, Paradise Diagnostics, Gujranwala Town, New Delhi, India; used with permission.
Appearance: It is a sessile or pedunculated, mucosa-covered, pink-red mass, usually measuring 1-2 cm in size. The surface is commonly ulcerated and such cases may be mistaken for a pyogenic granuloma. Lesions with intact pink mucosa resemble irritation fibromas. The adjacent teeth are usually unaffected, although there may be migration or loosening in rare cases.
Age Group: POF is usually seen in teenagers and young adults with peak prevalence in the 10-19 yr. age group. There is a strong female predilection.
Case History: The photograph shows a recurrent POF in a 29 y/o female. The lesion had been resected 7 years back and recurred within 3 months after surgery. Over several years, it gradually increased to its current size. There was intermittent pain and discomfort associated with chewing food. Intra-oral examination revealed a 1.0 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm sessile, non-tender, firm to hard, erythematous growth on the interdental gingiva in the mandibular right lateral incisor-cuspid region. The diagnosis of POF was confirmed on the excised specimen. Case courtesy of: Dr. Ishita Singhal, Dept. of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Sciences, Universita degli studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; and Dr. Geetpriya Kaur, Director, Paradise Diagnostics, Gujranwala Town, New Delhi, India; used with permission.