Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New type of benign gum tumor found in adult dogs explained
By Tai, Joyce & Bell, Cynthia M·Published in Journal of veterinary dentistry·2025·Dentistry and Oral Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Gingival Mucoperiosteal Fibroma-Clinical, Imaging, and Histological Review of a Novel Oral Fibroma in 27 Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 27 adult dogs, averaging about 8 years old, were found to have a type of benign growth in their mouths called gingival mucoperiosteal fibroma (GMPF). These fibrous masses appeared as swollen areas in the gums, particularly around the lower front teeth, and were confirmed through imaging and tissue examination. The good news is that when these growths were surgically removed, all the dogs recovered fully without any signs of the growth returning. This condition is not well-known, but surgery proved to be an effective treatment.
People also search for: dog gum growth · oral fibroma in dogs · dog mouth surgery recovery · gingival fibroma treatment
Abstract
This case series describes the clinical, imaging, and histological features of 27 lesions diagnosed as a benign fibrous mass not previously described in veterinary literature. The authors propose the name gingival mucoperiosteal fibroma (GMPF) to describe these fibrous lesions found in dogs. Histologically, GMPF is characterized by a lack of odontogenic tissue and various degrees of ossification. GMPFs affect adult dogs with an average age of 95 months (range 24-156 months) and appear as expansile growths with superficial appearance matching the surrounding gingiva. The mandibular incisive region is the most commonly affected region (n = 13) and most cases have some level of bone proliferation radiographically (n = 14). Histological examination of the masses shows poorly cellular fibrous tissue with thick interwoven collagen fibers. Bony invasion by the mass was not noted, though histological proliferation of bone was seen in 17 lesions. Surgical resection was curative in all cases when performed, and no recurrence was seen at time of follow-up. Fibrous lesions of the oral cavity in dogs are poorly defined and categorized, though numerous lesions have been described in both human and veterinary literature.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39042866/