Case #37:

Case profile:

Patient: Elderly male.

Case record:

Chief Complaint: The patient is concerned about a soft tissue enlargement of the maxillary mucolabial fold area. The patient reports that the lesion has been present for at least several years and is larger now than when first noted. It is not painful, but is occasionally sore. The patient states that the lesion is traumatized by his denture during prolonged chewing. The soreness resolves when he leaves the denture out at night. He has not noticed bleeding in association with the lesion.   Medical History: The patient smokes two packs of cigarettes per day.   Dental History: The patient's last dental treatment was fifteen years ago when he had his maxillary denture constructed. He wears his denture at night unless it causes soreness. He states that his denture is loose. The patient states that he only seeks dental treatment when he has a problem. The patient brushes his remaining teeth once a day with saltwater using a stiff toothbrush. He does not floss.   Clinical Findings: The lesion is an exophytic, 2.5 x 1.0 cm soft tissue enlargement in the right maxillary anterior mucolabial fold area. The flange of the denture fits into a depression in the lesion. The lesion is firm to palpation, has a smooth surface, and is fixed to the surface mucosa and to underlying structures. The lesion is nontender, with the exception of a depressed area in the lesion which is slightly erythematous and tender to palpation. The lesion does not blanch upon palpation except in the small erythematous area.

Images:

Soft Tissue Enlargement in Anterior Maxilla LG