title: Gingival manifestations of orofacial granulomatosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orofacial granulomatosis is a clinical entity presenting with swelling of the facial and/or oral tissues in association with histologic evidence of noncaseating granulomatous inflammation. Labial swelling is the most common finding. Compromise of the gingival and periodontal tissues may occur but has rarely been described in the literature. Our objective was to characterize granulomatous gingivitis in patients with orofacial granulomatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 29 cases of orofacial granulomatosis seen in our clinic between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 2006. Of these 29, 5 had clinical evidence of gingival tumefaction and underwent gingival biopsy. Histologic examination of all the gingival biopsy specimens showed noncaseating granulomas, edema of the superficial lamina propria, and a chronic inflammatory infiltrate consisting predominantly of lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells. Treatment options included anti-inflammatory therapy associated with periodontal care. Conclusion Gingival tumefaction with histologic evidence of granulomatous inflammation may occur in orofacial granulomatosis and might be more common than reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of GeneralPathology, Dental School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. silvialourenco.70@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Sílvia V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Alice Z C
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boggio
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fezzi
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sebastião
authors.forename: Marcello Menta S
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nico
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004487:Edema; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000209:etiology*; D051261:Granulomatosis, Orofacial / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult