Symmetrical palatal fibromatosis: Five new cases and a review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To present five cases of symmetrical palatal fibromatosis (SPF), a lesion reported very rarely in the English language literature, under more than a dozen different names, and to recommend the most appropriate name. METHODS: Five SPF cases are characterized with a literature review. RESULTS: Three females and two males, aged 20-39 years, presented with bilateral, symmetrical, asymptomatic, sessile, moderately firm, or soft (n = 2) masses of the lateral posterior hard palate; two were isolated to the tuberosities. All masses were normal in color, with smooth, non-ulcerated surfaces and occasional surface nodularity. Underlying bone was radiographically normal, and adjacent teeth were asymptomatic. All masses originated from supra-periosteal tissues over palatal bone, only secondarily extending to gingivae and/or crestal tuberosity. Cases were present between 4 months and 15 years, with no familial or environmental etiologies identified. Histopathologically, masses were comprised of dense, avascular fibrous tissue with scattered thick bands of collagen. Surface epithelium showed occasional long, thin, sometimes pointed rete processes, and subepithelial stroma contained scattered large, angular fibroblasts. Conservative surgical excision appeared curative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigators propose SPF as the most accurate name for this rare entity.