Oral Mucosa Flashcards
(129 cards)
Describe hard palate mucosa
Layer of keratin on surface to resist stresses of mastication. Keratinised stratified squamous epithelium, followed by lamina propria.
Small amount of adipose tissue and mucous salivary gland tissue
Difference between masticatory mucosa and lining mucosa
Masticatory - found gingivae and hard palate
Masticatory mucosa is keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Basal cell layer only few cells thick, majority prickle cell layer. Granulayer layer beneath surface where keratin is being made.
Masticatory mucosa formly mixed to underlying mucoperiosteum, designed to resist stresses of mastication, little submucosa (as dont want flexibility)
Lining - found uvula, soft palate, buccal mucosa, ventral tongue, FOM
Non-keratinised, loose submucosa to allow flexibility, no granular layer as no keratin production
4 types of papillae:
Filiform - most numerous
Fungiform - larger than filiform
Foliate - lateral, posterior aspect of tongue
Circumvallate - posterior 3rd of tongue, V shape
Taste buds found on foliate, fungiform and circumvallate
Filiform involved in abrasion and mastication, no taste buds
Leukodema
Presents symmetrically, typically on buccal mucosa but can be found lateral portions of tongue, FOM, labial surface and lip
Opacification of buccal mucosa - milky-white translucent area, diffuse appearance
No clear border
May have association with smoking
More apparent in African ethnic backgrounds
Will disappear on stretching
Asymptomatic
Differentials for leukodema
Leukodema biopsy will show clear epithelial cells that are larger than normal but wouldnt not routinely biopsy this
Differentials:
White sponge naevus - bilateral white patches but are thickr, folded, more extensive. WSN not diappeare on stretching
Frictional keratosis (cheek biting) - patch would be in occlusal plane, see sharp cusps
Lichen planus - classic appearance, white reticulations and lace pattern, more erosive and red areas, may have skin lesions
Geographic tongue
Islands of erythema with white borders - red patches with white halo Asymptomatic or mild soreness Aggravating factors - spicy/acidic Predominantly dorsum tongue Difflam to take edge off soreness
Differentials:
Lichen planus - red and white patches usually intermingled, not discrete. Rarely only affects dorsum
Frictional keratosis - associated sharp tooth, denture e.g. - usually all white
Fordyce spots
White/yellow speckling Asymptomatic Ectopic sebaceous glands Often in elderly Histology - normal mucosa with sebaceous glands in lamina propria
White sponge naevus
AD
Family history but may skip generations
Point mutation in keratin 4 or 13 genes
Clinical: •Bilateral •Cheeks and floor of mouth •Thick , white folds, wrinkled – ‘ebbing tide’ •Life long •May affect other mucosal sites •Won’t disappear on stretching, don’t rub off •Often presents in childhood
Histology:
•Very hyperplastic epithelium
•Acanthosis – thickness in prickle cell layer
•No inflammation
•Epithelial cells have very pink cytoplasm – related to abnormal keratin they are forming
White sponge naevus differentials
Lichen planus
Lichenoid drug reaction
Chronic cheek biting
Leukodema
Causes of traumatic ulceration
Trauma from dentures/teeth
Chemical burns
Irradiation for malignancy
Frictional keratosis
White patch caused by continual trauma - usually sharp cusps/ortho wires/dentures
Histology:
Keratin on surface of buccal mucosa (unusual)
Acanthosis of epithelial layer
No inflammation
Diagnosis - must be able to demonstrate lesion caused by trauma. If remove cause, lesion should regress. If not, consider other white lesions i.e. leukoplakia
Trauma specific to oral mucosa
Frictional keratosis
Stomatitis nicotina
Papillary hyperplasia of palate
Chemical burns
Stomatitis nicotina
• Palate in pipe and cigar smokers • Not a pre-malignant lesion • Positive correlation between intensity of smoking and severity • White bumps with red centre • Mixture of chemical trauma and heat trauma Treatment: • Stop or reduce smoking • Lesions may disappear • Regular review
Paillary hyperplasia of the palate
- Caused by ill-fitting dentures
- Symptomless – erythematous overgrowth of mucosa
- Corresponds to outline of denture
Management: • New dentures • Excision of papillary projections for advanced cases • Not pre-malignant • Usual advice about denture hygiene
Factors influencing healing
- Primary or secondary intention – wounds closely opposed heal faster than those separated
- Foreign body – acts as a focus of infection and delays healing
- Vascular supply – reduced blood supply reduces healing capacity
- Nutritional deficiencies – vitamin C
- Irradiation – reduces blood supply
- Malignancy – failure to heal e.g. non healing tooth socket
- Infection – reduces healing capacity
- Poor immune response – leukaemia, diabetes, immunosuppression
Localised swellings of gingival tissue
Fibrous hyperplasia (fibro-epithlial polyp) Pyogenic granuloma Peripheral giant cell granuloma Gingival cysts Bohns nodules
Generalised swellings of gingival tissue
Chronic hyperplastic gingivitis Leukamic infiltration Endocrine related (puberty, pregnancy) Crohn's disease Gingival fibromatosis Drug induced hyperplasia
Fibrous epulis (fibrous hyperplasia/fibro-epithelial polyp)
Epulis = gingival swelling, if lesion present elsewhere of gingiva then = fibro-epithelial polyp
Pedunculated or sessile
Same colour as normal mucosa as overlying epithelium normal
Caused by trauma
Overgrowth of fibrous CT
Covered by hyperkeratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Firm (collagenous centre)
Painless unless traumatised
Magaement of fibro-epithelial polyp
Excision
Remove cause
Send for histopath to check correct diagnosis
Histopath - CT overgrowth, hyperkeratinised startiifed squamous epithelium
Pyogenic granuloma
Red/blue/purple vascular growth Sessile or pedunculated Rapid growth Bleeds easily <40 years usually Common in pregnancy and puberty Caused by trauma - e.g. plaque, calculus, denture, ortho
Histo - overgrowth of very vascular granulation tissue (endothelial cells and fibroblasts) - explains red colour clinically
Management of pyogenic granuloma
Excise, warn can recur
If pregnant - avoid surgery until 3rd trimester
Remove inducing factor e.g. plaque, calculus
Lesions can mature into dense fibrous tissue (fibrous epulis)
Peripheral giant cell granuloma
Blue-ish sessile or pedunculated swelling on anterior gingiva Anterior Mandible > maxilla <40 years May cause superficial bone resoprtion
Histo: multinucleated giant cells, vascular fibrous tissue
Histological diagnosis - giant cell lesion
Radiographic investigation needed to exclude central giant cell lesion that has eroded through buccal plate appearing as peripheral giant cell lesion. X-ray would show well-defined, corticated margins causing expasion if CGCG
CGCG histologically same as hyperparathyroidism so blood test (serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase) to exclude
Management of peripheral giant cell granuloma
Excise and currettage of bone to prevent recurrence
Determine whether lesion has arisen in gingiva or bone - x-rays
Bloods to rule out hyperparathyroidism
Bohns nodules and Epstein pearls
Epstein pearls - midline where palatal shelves fuse, seen in babies, tend to disappear
Bohns nodules - similar to above but appear on gingival crest