Congenital Epulis in a Neonate: A Rare Cause of Oral Cavity Mass

Abstract

Background: Congenital epulis is a benign tumor of the oral cavity, rarely seen in newborns. Clinical Description: A term, female neonate presented soon after birth with a 5 cm × 3 cm × 2.5 cm, firm, lobulated, noncompressible, nonfluctuant oral cavity mass, arising from the right maxillary alveolar ridge with a pedunculated base. Management and Outcome: The lesion posed an obstacle to the establishment of breastfeeds or paladai feeds along with the potential to compromise the airway for which the mass was excised in toto under general anesthesia. Histopathology revealed a lining of stratified squamous epithelium, large polygonal cells with abundant granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm, and a prominent vascular stroma with no evidence of malignancy suggesting the diagnosis of congenital epulis and immunohistochemistry confirming the same. Conclusion: Congenital epulis are rare tumors of the oral cavity which have excellent results if resected early.