Abstract
Pseudolesions are defined as physiological or paraphysiological changes of the oral normal anatomy that can easily be misdiagnosed for pathological conditions such as potentially malignant lesions, infective and immune diseases, or neoplasms. Pseudolesions do not require treatment and a surgical or pharmacological approach can constitute an overtreatment indeed. This review aims to describe the most common pseudolesions of oral soft tissues, their possible differential diagnosis and eventual related systemic diseases or syndromes. The pseudolesions frequently observed in clinical practice and reported in literature include Fordyce granules, leukoedema, geographic tongue, fissured tongue, sublingual varices, lingual fimbriae, vallate papillae, white and black hairy tongue, Steno’s duct hypertrophy, lingual tonsil, white sponge nevus, racial gingival pigmentation, lingual thyroid, and eruptive cyst. They could be misdiagnosed as oral potential malignant disorders, candidiasis, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-related affections, oral autoimmune diseases, or benign and malignant tumors. In some cases, pseudolesions feature in a syndromic panel, for example, fissured tongue in Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome. It is strictly fundamental for dentists to know and to distinguish oral pseudolesions from pathological conditions, in order to avoid overtreatment.
Highlights
Oral lesions are characterized by tissue alterations, associated with cytological and histological changes [1]
Lingual fimbriae are normal anatomical structures that appear as small filiform flanges on the ventral surface of the tongue at the sides of the frenulum (Figure 2A)
Steno orifice for cases, it is responsible for simple variations in normal healthy oral anatomy
Summary
Oral lesions are characterized by tissue alterations, associated with cytological and histological changes [1] They can be determined by traumatic, infective, immune, potentially neoplastic, and neoplastic (benign or malignant) processes that affect the oral mucosa with different clinical appearance, onset time, and intensity. A surgical or medical approach to these conditions is useless but can result in overtreatment procedures Some of these pseudolesions can simulate oral potentially malignant lesions, vascular abnormalities, infective and autoimmune diseases, or neoplasms. Their identification is important in order to establish a correct differential diagnosis from oral diseases and to avoid inappropriate medical or surgical treatments. The aim of this review is to illustrate the most common oral pseudolesions, their possible differential diagnosis, and their eventual association with syndromes and systemic diseases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
