CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ORAL NEUROFIBROMA: A 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objectives To analyze the clinicopathologic features of oral neurofibromas (ONs) diagnosed in 2 Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology referral centers. Study Design A retrospective clinicopathologic study of ONs was performed (2000-2020). All cases were revised, and clinicopathologic data were collected. Results Among 18,121 diagnoses, 44 (0.2%) were ONs. There was a high frequency of females (62.6%) and a mean age of 43.4 years. Three patients had neurofibromatosis type 1 (6.8%), and 1 showed multiple ONs (2.3%). The palate was the most affected anatomic site (50%). Microscopically, most lesions were not well delimited (90.9%), and the stroma was predominantly fibrous (52.3%). Thirty cases exhibited mast cells (68.2%). Meissner bodies were present in 2 cases (4.5%). Forty-one cases were classified as diffuse ONs (93.2%). Conclusions ONs may occur as single or multiple lesions, associated or not with neurofibromatosis type 1. ONs may be composed of the fibrous stroma, and mast cells and chronic inflammatory cells are commonly found. Diffuse ONs are more common. Knowledge of clinicopathologic features is essential for the correct diagnosis of ONs. To analyze the clinicopathologic features of oral neurofibromas (ONs) diagnosed in 2 Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology referral centers. A retrospective clinicopathologic study of ONs was performed (2000-2020). All cases were revised, and clinicopathologic data were collected. Among 18,121 diagnoses, 44 (0.2%) were ONs. There was a high frequency of females (62.6%) and a mean age of 43.4 years. Three patients had neurofibromatosis type 1 (6.8%), and 1 showed multiple ONs (2.3%). The palate was the most affected anatomic site (50%). Microscopically, most lesions were not well delimited (90.9%), and the stroma was predominantly fibrous (52.3%). Thirty cases exhibited mast cells (68.2%). Meissner bodies were present in 2 cases (4.5%). Forty-one cases were classified as diffuse ONs (93.2%). ONs may occur as single or multiple lesions, associated or not with neurofibromatosis type 1. ONs may be composed of the fibrous stroma, and mast cells and chronic inflammatory cells are commonly found. Diffuse ONs are more common. Knowledge of clinicopathologic features is essential for the correct diagnosis of ONs.