title: An unusual green macular lesion of the gingiva: a foreign-body granulomatous reaction.
abstract: The current clinical case highlights the diagnostic process in characterizing an unusual green macular lesion of the maxillary gingiva. A review of the history revealed that the patient had suffered trauma to the oral tissues during a soccer match 2 years prior. An incisional biopsy was performed and microscopic analysis demonstrated the presence of a granulomatous reaction to a needle-shaped, birefringent foreign material. Comparative analysis of a specimen collected from the soccer field confirmed that the foreign material was artificial grass. Foreign material was also found inside the gingival epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tettamanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzoazzi86@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farronato
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bombeccari
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spadari
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology*