Lumps, Bumps and Patches in the Mouth (Oral Pathology)

Oral Pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the
diagnosis and assessment, made from tissue changes characteristic of disease of the oral cavity, jaws and salivary glands.

This is a clinical specialty undertaken by laboratory-based personnel.

The practice of Oral Pathology includes research and diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical, or other examinations.

This section of the website deals with the pathology of the more common clinical oral pathologies, their clinical manifestations and management.

Whilst working at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (2001 – 2006), I audited the biopsy specimens received by the Histopathology Department (results below) from the Oral Surgery Department.

From the results, I wrote information sheets reflecting the incidence of the oral pathology.

I did not write an information sheet regarding Oral Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) as this is best handled either by specific cancer websites or the medical / surgical teams handling this.

Actinomycosis,
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma,
Ameloblastic Carcinoma,
Ameloblastic Fibrodentinoma,
Crohn’s Disease,
Denture Granuloma,
Dermoid Cyst,
Epithelial Dysplasia,
Fibrous Dysplasia,
Malignant Melanoma,
Monomorphic Adenoma,
Neurilemona,
Pemphigoid,
Sebaceous Cyst,
Sialosis,
TB,
Pemphigus,
Verucca Vulgaris,
Adenocarcinoma,
Ameloblastoma,
Candidiasis,
Ossifying Fibroma,
Osteoma,
Osteomyelitis,
Giant Cell Granuloma,
Carcinoma in situ and
Giant Cell Epulis.

Clinical Entity	Actual Number	% of Total Number Received
Miscellaneous	74	3.75%
Melanotic Macule		0.40%
Foreign Body	13	0.70%
Odontogenic Keratocyst	13	0.70%
Lipoma	16	0.88%
Pleomorphic Adenoma	16	0.88%
Trichomonas	21	1.15%
Mucocoele	27	1.48%
Pyogenic Granuloma	28	1.54%
Fibrous Epulis	30	1.65%
Radicular Cyst	42	2.30%
Haemangioma	50	2.70%
Dentigerous Cyst	74	4%
Oral Ulceration	81	4.40%
Dental Cyst		5.40%
Squamous Cell Carcinoma	99	5.40%
Hyperkeratosis	124	6.80%
Keratosis	238	13%
Lichen Planus	268	14.70%
Fibro-Epithelial Polyp	502	27.50%