Congenital fibrous epulis in the infant

Abstract

Congenital fibrous epulis is an extremely rare tumor of infancy. It is a benign gingival tumor and generally seen in maxillary alveolar crest and its etiology remains the subject of debate. Congenital fibrous epulis could be considered a hamartomatous lesion. Histologically it does not show the closely packed large granular cells necessary for the diagnosis of an ordinary congenital epulis. Instead, it consists of irregular bundles of collagenous connective tissue, varying numbers of fusiform cells with oval or fusiform shaped nuclei and mild subepithelial inflammatory infiltration with tiny blood vessels and in this case a woven bone spicule in the deep area. Recommended treatment for this tumor is simple excision. We report upon a case of congenital fibrous epulis in a male infant and discuss the clinical features, histopathologic findings, and surgical treatment.