Histopathologically Confirmed Rudimentary Oral Cavity With Ectopic Mouth-Like Appearance in Unilateral Mandibular...

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial anomalies
• Developmental biology
• Surgical pathology

Background:

• Mandibular duplication with ectopic oral cavity formation is an extremely rare craniofacial duplication anomaly.
• Such entities are poorly defined, posing diagnostic and management challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of mandibular duplication presenting as an ectopic oral cavity in a pediatric patient.
• To emphasize the significance of clinicopathologic correlation in diagnosing and managing rare craniofacial malformations.
• To illustrate effective surgical management strategies in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

• Clinical presentation of a 5-year-old male with a congenital, mouth-like lesion in the mandibular region.
• Histopathological examination of the excised lesion, revealing stratified squamous epithelium, skeletal muscle, minor salivary glands, and tooth-related structures.
• Surgical planning and execution with postoperative follow-up.

Main Results:

• The lesion was a pedunculated, superficially located structure without continuity to the native oral cavity.
• Histopathology confirmed an organized tissue architecture without dysplasia or malignancy.
• The patient experienced no recurrence or functional impairment post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• This case represents a rare variant of mandibular duplication with distinct clinical and histopathological features.
• Clinicopathologic correlation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management planning.
• Effective surgical management is feasible even in resource-limited environments with careful evaluation and planning.