Reactive Lesions of the Oral Mucosa Flashcards
what type of epithelium is found on the cheek?
non-keratinised
What type of epithelium is found on the palate?
keratinised
what type of epithelium is located in the oral cavity?
stratified squamous
How does keratinised mucosa appear?
- no glycogen
- tightly bound
- no muscles found underneath
What is the function of keratinised mucosa?
protection
What are the gross subtypes of mucosa found within the oral cavity?
- lining
- masticatory
- gustatory
Give an example of keratosis commonly seen in the oral cavity?
linea alba
What is acanthosis?
hyperplasia of stratum spinosum (spinus cell layer)
What are elongated rete ridges?
hyperplasia of basal cells
What causes white lesions in the mouth to look white?
- keratosis (parakeratosis)
- acanthosis
What is atrophy?
- reduction in viable layers of mucosa
- epithelium becomes thinner
- BVs show through (red lesion)
what is erosion of mucosa?
partial thickness loss
what is ulceration of mucosa?
full thickness loss with fibrin on surface (fibrin causes yellow colour)
what is intercellular oedema called?
spongiosis
What is the difference between a vesicle and a bulla?
- vesicle is smaller clinically
- bulla is larger clinically
What is dysplasia?
disordered maturation [growth] in a tissue
- has the potential to become malignant
- can only be detected with a microscope
What is atypia?
occurs at a cellular level (change within cells)
What is the difference between cellular atypia and cellular dysplasia?
Dysplasia = change at tissue level
Atypia = change at cellular level
How does mucosa change as we age?
progressive atrophy
What nutritional deficiencies can cause atrophy of mucosa?
- iron
- vitamin B12
- folate
[haematinics]
Why is mucosal atrophy bad?
predisposes patient to infection (allows entry of pathogens/carcinogens etc)
What are some examples of reactions that occur when mucosa experiences trauma?
- inflammation
- keratosis
- ulceration
- fibrous tissue formation
- formation of vesicles and bulla
What are epulides?
Soft tissue swellings on gingiva only!
- reaction to chronic inflammation/chronic trauma
How do fibrous epulis appear?
firm nodule with normal coloured erosion
How does a vascular epulis appear?
blood vessels in granulation tissue
What is a giant cell?
fused macrophages that team up to destroy unphagocytosable material such as:
- local chronic irritation
- infective agents = TB bacillus
- hormonal stimulation of cells
What is an example of a reactive hyperplastic lesion?
traumatic fibroma (fibroepithelial polyp)
Where are fibroepithelial polyps normally found?
- cheek
- lip
- tongue
What is a leaf fibroma?
Squashed polyp
- commonly found under ill-fitting dentures
What can cause papillary hyperplasia?
ill fitting and unclean denture
What medications can cause drug-induced fibrous overgrowth?
- anti-hypertensives (calcium channel blockers)
- anti-epileptics (phenytoin)
- immunosuppressants (cyclosporin)
What causes gingivitis in pregnancy?
increased progesterone levels
