Lumps, Bumps and Tumours

Question 1

What is a tori?

Answer 1

Tori = slow growing congenital bony lumps - commonly on mandible by pre molars

Question 2

What is an exostoses?
Where are they commonly found?
Are they painful and malignant?

Answer 2

Exostoses = bone mass
Commonly found on maxilla around buccal mucosa
Painless and non-malignant

Question 3

List 2 benign epithelial tumours

Answer 3

1. Squamous cell papilloma
2. Adenoma

Question 4

List 5 benign connective tissue tumours:

Answer 4

1. Fibroma
2. Neuromas
3. Lipomas
4. Haemangiomas
5. Lymphangiomas

Question 5

Fibroma:

How does it present and how are they treated?

Answer 5

Fibroma - hard or soft usually leaf shaped
Treated - excision

Question 6

Neuroma:

How does it present?
What is it associated with?
How is it treated?

Answer 6

Group of yellow-whiteish nodules
Associated with multiple endocrine (MEN) syndromes
Heals naturally (self-limiting)

Question 7

Lipoma:

How does it present?
How is it treated?
Is it malignant?

Answer 7

Slow-growing, yellow mass on buccal mucosa
Treated with biopsy and excision
Very rarely malignant

Question 8

Haemangioma:

How does it present?
How does it occur?
How is it treated?

Answer 8

Red/purplish patch
It is a developmental lesion of blood vessels
DO NOT BIOPSY - laser or cryosurgery to treat

Question 9

Lymphangioma:

How does it present?
How is it treated?

Answer 9

Colourless or can be purple lesion if there is bleeding into the lymphatic spaces
Treated by excision

Question 10

What is one of the most common causes of oral swelling?

Answer 10

Dental abscess

Question 11

What is an epulis?

List 3 common epulides

Answer 11

Epulis = a swelling on the gingival margin

1. Fibrous epulis
2. Pyogenic granuloma epulis
3. Giant cell epulis

Question 12

Fibrous epulis:

What causes this?
How does it present?
Is it painful?

Answer 12

Excitation of fibrous tissue formation
Pink, firm swelling that doesn’t tend to bleed
Can become red and sore after trauma

Question 13

Pyogenic granuloma epulis:

What causes this?
How does it present?
What is it associated with?
How is it treated?

Answer 13

Gingival irritation caused by plaque and calculus
Ulcerated, red gingival surface
Associated with vascular effects of female hormones during pregnancy
Treated with excision and plaque and calculus removed (improve OH)

Question 14

Giant cell epulis:

What causes this?
How does it present?
How is it treated and how is a diagnosis confirmed?

Answer 14

Caused by unusual proliferative response to injury
Red swelling usually in edentulous areas
Treated by excision and needs to be diagnosed histologically

Question 15

Gingival fibromatosis - what is this?

Answer 15

A group of diseases with generalised fibrous enlargement of the gingiva

Question 16

List 3 drugs, and their function, which are associated with gingival swelling:

Answer 16

1. Nifedipine/amlodipine - calcium channel blockers used to treat angina, high BP etc.
2. Phenytoin - anticonvulsant to treat epilepsy
3. Cyclosporin - immunosuppressant, antirejection drug

Question 17

List 4 malignant tumours which may present as swellings:

Answer 17

1. Squamous cell carcinoma
2. Kaposi’s sarcoma
3. Verrucous carcinoma
4. Antral carcinoma