Assessment of reactive gingival lesions of oral cavity: A histopathological study

BACKGROUND: In the literature, many studies were attempted to analyze the distribution of oral reactive lesions in terms of age, gender and location. However, very few studies have focused on the detailed histopathological features of these reactive lesions of oral cavity. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to document the occurrence, distribution and various histopathological features of reactive gingival lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective archival review of reactive gingival lesions of oral cavity such as irritational fibroma (IF), inflammatory gingival hyperplasia (IGF), pyogenic granuloma (PG), peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) and peripheral ossifying fibroma involving gingival tissues. All the cases were histopathologically reviewed on some microscopical parameters according to the criteria given by Peralles et al. RESULTS: Regarding epithelial morphology, atrophy, ulceration and hyperplasia were found predominantly in PG. Connective tissue was predominantly dense in IGF and IF with fibroblastic proliferation; whereas loose connective tissue was seen in PG. Vascular proliferation, especially capillary, was commonly present in PG and inflammatory gingival hyperplasia (IGH). Inflammatory cell infiltrate was intense in both PG and IGH. Mineralization showed a marked affinity for peripheral cement-ossifying fibroma, and bone/bone-like areas were found in about ten cases of them. The Foreign body type of multinucleated giant cells was found exclusively on PGCG. CONCLUSION: Despite their clinical similarities, the findings of this study reports that all reactive gingival lesions show some differences in age, type, location, duration and histopathological features. Nevertheless, the differing histological pictures are a range of a single lesion in diverse stages of maturation. Essential in the treatment of reactive lesions is the total removal of the lesion with local irritants such as defective restorations or calculus formation.