A case of spontaneous regression of multiple congenital epulis

Abstract

: We describe our experience with a case of congenital epulis arising in both the maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridge, which showed spontaneous regression. Two distinct lesions were found in an 8-dayold newborn infant at the first medical examination: one was a sessile lesion on the maxillary alveolar ridge corresponding to the right upper deciduous canine, and the other was a pedunculated lesion on the mandibular alveolar ridge corresponding to the right lower deciduous lateral incisor. Because the patient did not have any problem with feeding using a nursing bottle or with breathing, we decided to perform follow-up observation.

Congenital Epulis: A Case and Review of the Literature

“…It is extremely rare, accounting for only approximately 0.2% of all types of epulis in Japan. Only 108 domestic cases have been reported in the Japanese literature 24) since 1935, with that number including the present case also. Various histopathological characteristics of congenital epulis have been reported 28,30) , including the fibrous and granu-lomatous appearance of the tissue.…”

A patient with large congenital epulis in the maxillary and mandibular anterior areas accompanied by impaired suckling

“…According to Shibukawa et al, 11 104 cases of congenital epulis have been reported in Japan. Their sizes varied from that of a red bean to 42 × 33 × 29 mm, which developed in the upper jaw 12 .…”

“…Fibroblasts, histiocytes, myogenic, neurogenic, reactive proliferation, and hamartoma of mesenchymal cells have been reported as the tissue of origin 2,3 . Shibukawa et al 11 considered mechanical stimulation of the oral mucosa by the finger tips and nails, such as sucking, to be behaviors exhibited in the fetal period that can induce epulis. Furthermore, Mori 19 reported that fetuses in the uterus start sucking behavior at approximately 17 weeks of gestation and the sucking force is sufficiently strong to form sucking blisters on the first and third fingers, wrist, and dorsum of the hand.…”

“…In a study by Shibukawa et al, 11 congenital epulis was accompanied by granular cells in all cases treated by resection earlier than 20 days after birth, but it was not accompanied by granular cells in cases at two or more months after birth, and both types were present in cases treated surgically between 20 days and 2 months after birth.…”

“…Only nine cases of congenital epulis expanding in the upper over lower jaws have been reported, including our patient 5,11,[13][14][15][16][17][18] (Table 1). The lesion was resected in eight patients, and the pathology was granular cells in all.…”