Clinicopathological study of oral focal mucinosis: A retrospective case series

Abstract

Background: Oral focal mucinosis (OFM) is a rare soft tissue lesion of unknown etiology that exhibits tumor-like growth. It is considered the oral counterpart of cutaneous focal mucinosis or cutaneous myxoid cyst. This is a retrospective study of oral OFM diagnosed over a period of 42 years at an oral pathology service. Material and Methods: Clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical data were analyzed. Alcian blue staining and S-100 immunohistochemistry were performed. Results: Eleven cases were retrieved (4:1 female-to-male ratio). The mean age was 44 years. The gingiva was the most affected site. The main clinical presentation was sessile or pedunculated lesions of fibrous or hyperplasic ap-pearance, most of them asymptomatic. Positive Alcian blue staining and absence of S-100 protein were observed in all specimens, which supported the histological diagnosis of OFM. Surgical excision was the treatment of choice. Conclusions: Although rare, this study supports the inclusion of OFM in the differential diagnosis of intraoral myxoid lesions.