JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Vol. 53 No. 10                   2007

ISSN: 0021-5163      UBIC: 151-J

ABSTRACT

In the oral region, traumatic neuroma is rarely encountered in daily clinical practice. As this lesion is caused by some kinds of trauma, traumatic neuroma may develop after operations such as tooth extraction. Traumatic neuroma appears to be a tumors, however, pathologically it is not thought to be a neoplasm, but nodular hyperplasia in nerve fibers. A typical case of traumatic neuroma is presented. A 32-year-old woman with a nodule arising in the left mental foramen region was referred to us. The nodule was first noted 6 years ago and persisted without any change until treatment. Before the nodule had appeared, the patient underwent surgical removal of a mucocele from the left mental foramen at another hospital. After the operation, the same region underwent surgery twice because of recurrence. The nodule was slightly tender, covered with normal mucosa, and red-bean size at presentation. A traumatic neuroma was diagnosed clinically. The tumor was removed under local anesthesia and examined histopathologically. Numerous distinct neural bundies with densely fibrous connective tissue were observed histopathologically in the specimen. The histopathological diagnosis of traumatic neuroma was established. No signs of recurrence have occurred so far. Key words: traumatic neuroma, mental foramen, mental nerve, trauma.

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