Benign lesions

Benign lesions (benign tumors) have, in general, regular edges. Their growth is slow.

The Acupuncturist does not need to know the nomenclature of the lesions, but must be familiarized with the images to be able to identify them during inspection and guide the patient adequately.
Adenoma

Adenoma

Pleomorphic adenoma. Note the 2x2 cm firm well-circumscribed smooth swelling on the hard palate of this 67 years old woman. Excision biopsy revealed pleomorphic adenoma.
Papilloma

Papilloma

Papilloma. A growth with finger-like projections on the left buccal mucosa.
Fibroma

Fibroma

Fibroma with surface ulceration. Note the swelling (yellow arrow) on the right lateral margin of the tongue with a linear ulcer (red arrow) due to chronic irritation of the sharp lingual cusps of the right mandibular second molar tooth, which has undergone severe attrition.
Polyp

Polyp

Fibroepithelial polyp on the dorsum of the tongue. A broad-based growth of 1x1 cm size on the right side of dorsum tongue.
Lipoma

Lipoma

Lipoma of the floor of the mouth. Note the smooth, yellowish swelling in the anterior part of the floor of mouth, near the lingual frenum.
Granuloma

Granuloma

Granular cell tumour. The typical presentation of granular cell tumour: a sessile swelling on the tongue covered by normal appearing epithelium.
Haemangioma

Haemangioma

A 0.5x0.5 cm sessile growth on the dorsum tongue. An excision biopsy revealed ulcerated haemangioma.
Haemangioma

Haemangioma

Haemangioma of the lower lip in 50-year-old female.
Haemangioendothelioma

Haemangioendothelioma

A 1.5 X 1 cm sessile growth on the tip of tongue in a 38-year-old woman. Ulcerating haemangioendothelioma was confirmed on excision biopsy.
Lymphangioma

Lymphangioma

Lymphangioma of the tongue. Note the prominent pebbly appearance with a central groove involving the ventral surface of the tongue.
Lymphangioma

Lymphangioma

Lymphangioma of the tongue.
Neurofibroma

Neurofibroma

Neurofibroma. A well-defined firm painless growth on the labial aspect of the gingiva of the lower right canine-premolar region in a 26-year-old woman.
Granuloma

Granuloma

Pyogenic granuloma. Note the 1.5x1.5 cm vascular sessile growth on the left side of hard palate in this 30-year-old man.
Mucocele

Mucocele

Mucocele. Note a non-tender cystic swelling in the lower lip in a 17-year-old male. The mucosa over the swelling shows an erosive area in the center indicating traumatization from the upper tooth.
Condyloma acuminatum

Condyloma acuminatum

Condyloma acuminatum. Several sessile, cauliflower-like swellings forming a cluster.

Refer the patient to health service.

Learn how to identify anatomic variations and oral lesions