Rare Case of Peripheral Myxofibroma of Anterior Maxillary Gingiva: A Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract

The myxofibroma (MF) constitutes an uncommon, non-malignant, odontogenic neoplasm with potential mesenchymal derivation. The occurrence rate of this particular tumor is estimated to be around 0.05 new cases per million individuals annually. MFs exhibit a higher incidence rate within the age range of 10 to 30 years. The prevalence of these tumors is higher among the female population, with a predominant localization in the mandible, specifically in the posterior region. A female patient, 66 years old, was referred to the Department of Oral Surgery, Surgical Implantology and Radiology, Thessaloniki, Greece, complaining of a tumorous lesion in the anterior area of the maxilla and mild pain. Clinically, a solid in palpation lobulated tumor, covered by normal coloured mucosa was observed at the left upper incisor. After the excisional biopsy, the microscopic appearance of abundant fibromyxoid stroma, in particular, myxoid stroma intermingled with collagenous tissue, covered by stratified squamous epithelium, suggested the diagnosis of peripheral myxofibroma. During a 2-year follow-up, no recurrence was referred. This case illustrates the necessity of proper differential diagnosis of every tumorous lesion of the gingiva and of using the histopathological examination.