A diffuse traumatic neuroma in the palate: a case report

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Neuropathology
• Surgical oncology

Background:

• Traumatic neuroma is a reactive neural proliferation, not a true neoplasm, typically arising after nerve injury.
• Oral traumatic neuromas are uncommon, usually presenting as solitary lesions on the lower lip, tongue, or near the mental foramen.
• This report describes the first documented case of a diffuse traumatic neuroma affecting the palate.

Observation:

• A 30-year-old Japanese male presented with a painful, diffuse swelling on the left palate.
• Initial treatment with antibiotics and NSAIDs was ineffective, suggesting a non-infectious etiology.
• Histopathological examination confirmed the lesion as a traumatic neuroma.

Findings:

• The palatal traumatic neuroma exhibited diffuse expansion and indistinct borders, posing diagnostic and surgical challenges.
• Complete surgical resection with a 5-mm margin was performed under general anesthesia.
• Despite microscopic tumor cells at the surgical margins, the patient remained recurrence-free for 3 years post-surgery.

Implications:

• This case highlights the rarity of diffuse palatal traumatic neuromas and the importance of considering them in differential diagnoses.
• Effective management involved surgical excision, emphasizing the need for adequate margins.
• Long-term surveillance is recommended due to the potential for delayed recurrence of traumatic neuromas.