Congenital Epulis

This newborn baby presented with a mass protruding from the mouth. A sagittal T2-weighted MR image shows a high signal lesion arising from the maxillary alveolar ridge and protruding from the mouth. Post-gadolinium studies showed homogeneous moderate enhancement. The findings are consistent with the diagnosis of congenital epulis. The differential diagnoses include haemangioma, lymphangioma, and teratoma.
Histological examination of the resected lesion confirmed the diagnosis of congenital epulis.
Congenital epulis is a rare tumour affecting newborns, otherwise known as gingival granular cell tumour. It most commonly arises from the maxillary alveolar ridge, and typically presents as a pedunculated mass protruding from the mouth at birth. There is a marked female predominance. Histology suggests a mesenchymal origin. Local resection is generally curative.
Reference: Lapid O, et al. Congenital Epulis. Pediatrics Vol. 107 No. 2 February 2001, p. e22
Credit: Dr Laughlin Dawes
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