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A Guide to Clinical Differential Diagnosis of Oral Mucosal Lesions

Course Number: 110

Benign and Malignant Tumors

If a soft tissue enlargement appears to be a tumor, the clinician must next determine if the enlargement is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are typically better defined or circumscribed and have a slower growth rate, measured in months and years, than malignant neoplasms. Malignant neoplasms are more likely to be painful and cause ulceration of the overlying epithelium than benign lesions. Since malignant neoplasms invade or infiltrate surrounding muscle, nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue, they are fixed or adherent to surrounding structures during palpation. Some benign tumors are also fixed to surrounding structures, but other benign tumors are surrounded by a fibrous connective tissue capsule, which may allow the lesion to be moved within the tissue independent of surrounding structures.

Benign tumors can be subdivided into four categories: epithelial, mesenchymal, salivary gland tumors, and cysts of soft tissue. Although soft tissue cysts are not tumors, their historical and clinical features resemble those of benign tumors. Each of these categories is further subclassified as shown in Tables 5-8.

Table 5. Benign Epithelial Tumors.

BENIGN EPITHELIAL TUMORS
Firm; non-tender; fixed to the surface; rough or cauliflower surface; pale.
PapillomaPedunculated; exophytic
Verruca vulgarisBroad-based; exophytic
Condyloma acuminatumBroad-based; exophytic; multiple lesions; frequently genital lesions

Table 6. Benign Mesenchymal Tumors.

BENIGN MESENCHYMAL TUMORS
Overlying mucosa is normal unless traumatized; usually well-circumscribed, asymptomatic, slowly growing.
Irritation fibromaFirm or compressible
Epulis fissuratum (inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia)Located adjacent to flange of removable denture; firm or compressible
Peripheral ossifying fibromaOccursonly on gingiva; firm; sometimes ulcerated; sometimes vascular; may move teeth
LeiomyomaFirm; sometimes vascular.
RhabdomyomaFirm; located in areas of skeletal muscle
Peripheral giant cell granulomaOccurs only on gingiva or attached alveolar mucosa; vascular
HemangiomaCongenital; compressible; vascular; circumscribed or diffuse
LymphangiomaCongenital; compressible; usually diffuse; not vascular
Pyogenic granulomaVascular; compressible; frequently has rapid growth, ulcerated, bleeds easily
LipomaEncapsulated; compressible; sometimes yellow
Neuroma (traumatic or amputation neuroma)Firm; usually tender to palpation; size of lesion is dependent upon size of involved nerve
NeurofibromaFirm or compressible; non-tender; circumscribed or diffuse; may occur with neurofibromatosis
Schwannoma (neurilemoma)Encapsulated; firm; non-tender;
Granular cell tumorFirm; sometimes overlying surface is rough
Congenital epulisFirm; congenital; occurs only on attached alveolar mucosa

Table 7. Benign Salivary Gland Tumors.

BENIGN SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS
Well-circumscribed; slowly growing; asymptomatic; overlying mucosa is normal unless traumatized; occur only where salivary glands are present (everywhere in the oral mucosa except midline and anterior hard palate, gingiva and attached alveolar mucosa).
Pleomorphic adenoma (Mixed tumor)Encapsulated; firm or compressible
Monomorphic adenomaEncapsulated; firm or compressible
OncocytomaEncapsulated; firm; occurs in older adults
Papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum
(Warthin tumor)
Encapsulated; firm or compressible; occurs in parotid gland
Adenoid cystic carcinoma*Firm
Acinic cell carcinoma*Firm
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, low-grade*Compressible or fluctuant
Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma*Firm
  • These are malignant neoplasms, but they sometimes have the clinical & historical features of benign neoplasms.

Table 8. Soft Tissue Cysts.

SOFT TISSUE CYSTS
Compressible; well-circumscribed; asymptomatic; slowly growing; overlying mucosa is normal.
Gingival cystLocated on attached gingiva anterior to 1st molars
Lymphoepithelial cystUsually has yellow color; occurs in floor of mouth, ventral & lateral surfaces of tongue, soft palate & tonsillar area; also occurs in anterior cervical lymph node chain (branchial cleft or cervical lymphoepithelial cyst)
Epidermoid or dermoid cyst“Doughy” to palpation; usually occurs in floor of mouth; occurs commonly in skin
Thyroglossal tract cystOccurs in midline of neck; may be attached to hyoid bone & moves when patient swallows
Nasolabial cystLocated in maxillary labial fold & ala of nose area
  • These are cysts, but they have the clinical & historical features of benign neoplasms.

It should be emphasized that the clinical descriptions above are general guidelines, and exceptions occur. Removal of the lesion and microscopic examination of the tissue is the only way to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

To view the Decision Tree for Oral Mucosal Lesions, click on one of the options shown.

To view the Decision Tree for Oral Mucosal Lesions, click on one of the options shown.