Slow growing, painful, nodular swelling on the buccal mucosa: a case report.

Nodular swellings of the oral cavity are frequently encountered in dental practice. The disease processes that give rise to nodular swellings in the oral cavity include inflammatory hyperplasias, obstructive minor salivary gland disorders, infections, benign connective tissue neoplasms and salivary gland neoplasms. Understandably, the nature of these entities also varies significantly, ranging from very innocuous to aggressive lesions, underscoring the need for accurate diagnosis.