Der interessante Fall Nr. 70

Abstract

We will report two cases of newborn girls, who could not be breast fed because of a benign tumour in their oral cavity. These polypoid lesions were located in both cases in the labial aspect of the dental ridge. Tumours were fleshy, firm, dark-brown with a broad-based attachment to the alveolar ridge. The underlying bone was not affected. The size of neoplasm was in one case 3 x 2 cm, in the other one 2 x 1.5 cm. Excision was performed in both cases at the day after birth. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. A regular oral feeding was immediately possible. Histological findings showed large tumour cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and a prominent vascularity. Cells did not show immunostaining for laminin or S-100 protein. All these findings are characteristic of congenital granular cell tumour and its synonym congenital epulis. There is a strong predilection for newborn females. It differs from adult granular cell tumours by its prominent vascularity, the presence of scattered remnants of odontogenic epithelium, and the strong phosphatase activity. These lesions are always cured by local excision. The exact nature of this condition is still not clear, and there is little support for its originating from odontogenic epithelial cells.