Ulcerated midline nodule of the hard palate

Abstract

CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 14-year-old boy was referred to the Oral Medicine Clinic, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, for evaluation of a red nodular lesion of the palate. The lesion, which measured 10 10 5 mm, was located in the midline of the hard palate and was firm to palpation. A focal area of ulceration was noted in the center of the lesion (Fig. 1). The patient reported that the lesion had been present for 2 months and was somewhat painful, presumably secondary to the ulceration. No lymph nodes were palpable. The patient’s medical history was otherwise noncontributory. No osseous alterations were noted on occlusal radiograph (Fig. 2) or computerized tomography scanning.