Practice abstract
British Dental Journal 203, 573 - 574 (2007)
Published online: 24 November 2007 | doi:10.1038/bdj.2007.1042
Subject Categories: Case reports | Oral pathology | Oral surgery
Unusual wooden foreign body in the palate
A. M. P. Soubhia1, A. C. P. Ribeiro2, L. D. Martins3, A. R. S. Silva4 & M. A. Lopes5
- Foreign bodies often induce reparative granuloma formation or suppuration but can eventually have a different course, making diagnosis difficult.
- Although rare, maxillofacial foreign bodies can be misdiagnosed as odontogenic lesions, so correct diagnosis is essential to performing the appropriate treatment.
- Scanning electronic microscopy can be a useful method in identifying the origin of foreign bodies.
Abstract
We report a case of a palatal calcified foreign body simulating an odontogenic lesion. Surgical exploration revealed a calcified mass that was analysed under light microscopy and identified as a vegetal foreign body. Further scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the foreign body was a piece of wood. Hard palate foreign bodies have been reported previously, however, it seems that this is the first case of its kind.
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Propedeutic (Oral Pathology), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Propedeutic (Oral Pathology), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Private Practice, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis (Semiology), Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis (Semiology), Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
Correspondence to: M. A. Lopes5 e-mail: malopes@fop.unicamp.br
