Case report: an unusually large epulis on the maxillary gingiva of a 24-year-old woman

A 24-year-old woman had a red mass (2.4 x 1.4 cm) on her left maxillary gingiva (between teeth No. 11 and 12) that interfered with normal occlusion and speech. Although pyogenic granuloma was the clinical diagnosis, histopathologic examination revealed that the lesion was actually focal fibrous hyperplasia with focal mucinosis degeneration. This article illustrates the role of the oral and maxillofacial pathologist in establishing an accurate diagnosis of oral lesions and discusses the differential diagnosis of gingival enlargements.