Hidden vegetable matter in tissue sections - A case series

Food particles get frequently impacted in the oral cavity in varying sites. Oral pulse granuloma develops as a consequence of implantation of food particles of plant or vegetable origin in oral tissues. The lesion might be central or peripheral. It has a differing histological picture and may be confused with many other lesions including parasitic infection. Impacted vegetable matter is rarely associated with multiple myeloma, bacterial and fungal osteomyelitis, and squamous cell carcinoma and has never been reported in the literature before. Thus, in the present case series, we have discussed about the above three rare associations along with pulse granulomas associated with periapical granuloma and periapical cyst. The paper aims to discuss the clinical, histological, and polarising microscopic features of the cases and theories substantiating aetiology and in general about the differential diagnosis.