Localized juvenile spongiotic gingival hyperplasia: A report of 27 cases

Localized juvenile spongiotic gingival hyperplasia (LJSGH) is a poorly understood but distinctive inflammatory hyperplasia occurring in children and young adults. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported since its initial description.

During the period of 2015 to 2018, cases of LJSGH were identified, retrieved and their clinical and histopathological data reviewed.

There were 27 cases, with a median age of 13 years (range 7-72 years). Twenty-four of 27 patients were less than 20 years old, and in three cases the patients were over 60 years of age. The most commonly affected site was the anterior maxillary gingiva presenting as a solitary, red, and papillated lesion. Typical microscopic findings included elevated areas of variably acanthotic, spongiotic nonkeratinized epithelium with elongated rete ridges, accompanied by a neutrophilic-rich infiltrate. An abrupt transition between epithelium affected by LJSGH and normal mucosa was characteristic. LJSGH typically exhibited full-thickness epithelial expression of CK19 without expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors.

The clinical and histopathologic characteristics of LJSGH are unique and consistent. Despite the name, the condition is not limited to juveniles and can occur in adults. LJSGH in adults and juveniles shares the same spectrum of histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings.