Irritation Fibroma of the Oro-Facial Region: a retrospective study of cases Treated in a Teaching Hospital in North- West, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Study: Irritation fibroma or traumatic fibroma or fibro-epithelial polyp (FEP) is a benign reactive lesion. It is the most common oral benign tumour. It is mesodermal in origin and has characteristic pink, red or white, and knob-like appearance. It is painless and could present as sessile or pedunculated lesion. Objective of the study was to present the pattern of occurrence and treatment of irritation fibroma occurring in the oro-facial region in our Centre.

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of cases of irritation fibroma treated at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria. The period of study spanned from January 2010 to December 2020. Information was collected from the records of the patient and these include: age, gender, aetiology, duration of tumour, location, therapy and histology.

Results: Thirty-nine cases were seen. Males were 14 and female 25. The tongue was most affected (n=15, 38.5%), then the buccal mucosa (n=13, 33.3%), gingivae (n=7, 17.9%), cheek (n=2, 5.1%), nose (n=1, 2.6%) and forehead (n=1, 2.6%). The treatment of the tumour was surgical excision.  

Conclusion:  The tumour despite being a benign reactive lesion, it poses dangers to the victim as periodic trauma to it could aggravate a malignant transformation, therefore urgent treatment must be done.