Reactive Lesions of the Oral Mucosa: A Retrospective Analysis of 69 Cases

Introduction: Reactive lesions encompass a category of fibroepithelial lesions that are frequently observed in the oral mucosa. Due to the oral cavity’s significant exposure to trauma or frictional forces, the incidence of these reactive lesions is notably higher within this anatomical region. Despite resembling neoplastic proliferations clinically, proper knowledge about these lesions is crucial for accurate diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Clinical data of all the reactive lesions were collected retrospectively from the 5-year archives of the Oral Pathology Department, GITAM Dental College and Hospital, Visakhapatnam. A  comprehensive clinical and histopathological assessment was conducted for all Reactive lesions. The collected data comprised age, gender, dimensions, location, and histopathological diagnosis, systematically compared and organized into tabulated formats. Results: In our study, we found that (54%) were females, with a slight female prediction. The 1st most common reactive lesion observed in our study was fibroepithelial polyp (29.85%). The gingiva was the most affected site (38.8%), followed by the buccal mucosa (31.3%). Conclusion: Reactive lesions are more prevalent in the oral cavity. As they can mimic multiple conditions, the clinical assessment was aligned with the histopathological characteristics to facilitate precise diagnosis while also delving deeper into the etiological factors implicated. Oral reactive lesions like pyogenic granuloma with unknown etiological factors need to be justified to arrive at a proper diagnosis, as suggested by Daley et al.