ORAL MASSES: CYSTIC, BENIGN MALIGNANT

摘要

Swellings either within the oral cavity or associated with surrounding maxillofacial structures warrant close examination as these swellings could be inflammatory, neoplastic, cystic or developmental in origin. With sedated oral examination, intraoralradiography, and biopsy a diagnosis if not at least a category of disease can be reached. As treatment planning and prognosis for oral masses varies dramatically, narrowing of the diagnosis to at least a general characterization will be helpful. Oral masses that are characterized as cystic in nature include abscesses, true cysts, and odontomas. Odontomas will be discussed under benign masses as they are really odontogenic tumors. They mistakenly fall into the cystic category on initial diagnoses periodically as significant amounts of fluid can accumulate around unerupted dental tissue. Abscesses are a localized collection of infected purulent fluid formed by the disintegration of tissue. Most abscesses are formed by invasion of tissues by bacteria, but some are caused by fungi, protozoa or even helminthes, and some are sterile. Common oral causes for formation of abscesses include fractured teeth with pulp exposure, non-vital intact teeth, feline tooth resorption, foreign body, retained tooth roots (either traumatic or post-extraction), bony sequestration, osteomyelitis and severe periodontal disease. Treatment will vary depending on the etiology, abscess location and size, and radiographic findings.