Interrelationship between pyogenic granuloma and peripheral ossifying fibroma: a case report

Pyogenic Granuloma (PG) is an inflammatory hyperplasia which is non-neoplastic in nature. Because of the high incidence of oral PG, critical need exists for its proper diagnosis and treatment. Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma (POF) is a focal reactive overgrowth occurring in young adults. Though clinically similar to PG, it is important to differentiate the lesions based on the histopathological findings that facilitate the management of the lesion, which is diverse in nature when compared to PG. Proper treatment of such overgrowths and appropriate oral hygiene instructions shall ensure no recurrence of the lesion. There are very few case reports published depicting the recurrence of 1 lesion into another reactive overgrowth, and fewer case reports exists describing the interrelationship between these 2 lesions. Hence this case report depicts the interrelation between these 2 reactive fibrous overgrowths having different histomorphologic representation. Also, the importance of histopathologic diagnosis and a proper treatment plan is emphasized to prevent unnecessary distress to the patient regarding the severity of such lesions. An irregular gingival overgrowth occurring in the mandibular anterior region diagnosed histopathologically as PG in a 35 year old female is described. The lesion was excised. Furthermore, it recurred after a year in the same region and the histopathologic diagnosis of the lesion confirmed it as POF. The overgrowth was excised and thoroughly curetted. The case was followed up to 1 year without any signs of recurrence.