title: Papillary synovial metaplasia-like change in oral mucoceles: a rare and previously undescribed histopathologic variant of a common oral lesion.
abstract: The development of synovial membrane-like structures has been described previously only in association with breast implants, the bone-cement interface of hip prostheses, tendon implants, testicular implants, and traumatized skin. Previous investigators have theorized that this phenomenon-referred to as "synovial metaplasia"-develops in response to gliding trauma. In some cases, these lesions can exhibit a papillary growth pattern. We report 2 unusual cases of oral mucoceles exhibiting papillary synovial metaplasia-like change: the first arising in the lower lip of an 11-year old African-American boy and the second in the lower lip of a 12-year-old European-American girl. We propose that these cases represent a rare and previously undescribed histopathologic variant of the oral mucocele. These lesions should be distinguished from other oral lesions that may exhibit a papillary cystic growth pattern.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. chi@musc.edu
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Haigney
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
authors.forename: Brad W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Neville
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology*; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009078:Mucocele / Q000473:pathology*