Fibroma

Fibroma is a benign tumour of connective tissue that occurs in the oral cavity..

Clinical features:

The fibroma appears as an elevated lesion of normal colour with a smooth surface and a sessile or peduculated base.The tumour may be small or may range up to several centimeters in diameter.The tumour sometimes becomes irritated and inflammed and may show superficial ulceration.The tumour is a well defined,slowly growing lesion  and occurs at any age but it commonly seen in the third,fourth and fifth decades.The tumour originates on the gingiva,buccal mucosa,tongue,lips and palate.The consistency of the fibroma may be firm and resilient or soft and spongy..The terms’ hard firoma’ and ‘soft fibrom’ are clinically used.

Histologic features:

The firoma consists of bundles of interlacing collagenous fibers interspersed with varying numbers of fibroblasts or fibrocytes and small blood vessels.The surface of the lesion is covered by a layer of stratified squamous epithelium which shows shortening and flattening of the rete pegs..If any trauma has occurred to the tissue,vasodilatation,edema and inflammatory cell infiltration are present..Areas of focal or diffuse calcifications and even ossifications are seen..These lesions have sometimes been called “Peripheral ossifying fibroma”,”ossifying fibroid epulis”,”Peripheral cementifying fibroma” or “Peripheral odontogenic fibroma”.

Treatment and Prognosis:

The treatment for fibroma is conservative surgical excision..The lesion doesnot recur..