CONCEPT

Exophytic lesions are solid, excrescent and circumscribed; they stand out clearly on the oral mucosa, and are normally detectable on inspection and exploration. Generally of soft, elastic or hard-elastic consistency.

CLASSIFICATION

ACCORDING TO PATHOGENESIS

A. Malformation. Developmental disorder, may be congenital or not, hereditary or acquired.
Example: malformed or mature angioma.

B. Reactive hyperplasia. Reparative proliferation, generally inflammatory or traumatic, with either a genetic or acquired background. Depends on the causative stimulus and is sometimes reversible.
Example: Telangiectatic granuloma.

C. Tumor. An abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which is uncoordinated with that of normal tissues, and that persists in the same excessive manner after the cessation of the stimulus which evoked the change (Willis). Generally, multifactorial with a genetic origin. Benign or malignant.
Examples: lipoma (benign), squamous cell carcinoma (malignant).

ACCORDING TO TISSUE
OF ECT-ENDODERMIC ORIGIN

• epithelial.
• adnexa.
• nerve tissue

OF MESODERMIC ORIGIN

• conective tissue.
• muscle tissue.
• adipose tissue.
• lymphatic and blood vessels.
• bone tissue.
• cartilaginous tissue

OF MULTIPLE CELL LINES

CONCLUSIONS.

1. It is sometimes difficult to differentiate between a malformation, hyperplasia or tumor. Is the papilloma a reactive lesion or a true tumor?

2. The diagnosis of an exophytic lesion is always clinicopathological.

3. An early diagnosis is essential for lesions which, due to their location or character,  may compromise the life of the patient

REFERENCES

Cardona Tortajada F, Bagán Sebastián JV, Gallego Alvarez A, Brusola Cardo A, Peñarrocha Diago M. Tumores benignos de la cavidad oral. Oris 1993; 3:55-64.

Cerero R, García- Pola MJ,Esparza G. Lesiones exofíticas benignas de la mucosa oral. Av. Odontoestomatol 1996; 12:681-95.

Bouquet JE, Gundlanch KH. Oral exophytic lesions in 23, 616 white Americans over 35 years of age. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1986; 62:284-91.

Perón JM, Lecomte-Houcke M. Pathologie bénigne de la cavité buccale. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac 1995 ; 4 :235-8.

Cardona Tortajada F, Bagán Sebastián JV, Gallego Alvarez A, Brusola Cardo A, Peñarrocha Diago M. Tumores benignos de la cavidad oral. Oris 1993; 3:55-64.        [ Links ]

Cerero R, García- Pola MJ,Esparza G. Lesiones exofíticas benignas de la mucosa oral. Av. Odontoestomatol 1996; 12:681-95.        [ Links ]

Bouquet JE, Gundlanch KH. Oral exophytic lesions in 23. 616 white Americans over 35 years of age. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1986;62:284-91.        [ Links ]

Perón JM, Lecomte-Houcke M. Pathologie bénigne de la cavité buccale. Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac 1995 ; 4 :235-8.        [ Links ]