Congenital Epulis of the Newborn
Susan Müller, DMD, MS
Key Facts
Terminology
Rare, benign congenital growth on alveolar mucosa in neonates
Clinical Issues
Female > > > > Male (8-10:1)
Maxilla > > mandible (3:1)
Clinically presents at birth to within a few weeks
Lesions appear to regress after birth
Surgical excision under anesthesia
Microscopic Pathology
Stroma is composed of sheets of large polygonal cells
Abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm
Small round or oval basophilic nuclei
Overlying epithelium is uniform in thickness
Diagnostic Checklist
S100 protein(-) granular cells in soft tissue mass on alveolus of neonate are pathognomonic for congenital epulis
 High-power photomicrograph of a congenital epulis shows a uniform epithelium with atrophy of the rete ridges. Cells with abundant granular cytoplasm and a basophilic nuclei are seen in the lamina propria. |
 Unlike the granular cell tumor, the granular cells in congenital epulis are not immunoreactive for S100 protein. The overlying epithelium shows isolated melanocytes  positive with S100 protein. |
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Neumann tumor
Gingival granular cell tumor of infancy
Definitions
Rare, benign congenital growth on alveolar mucosa in neonates
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
Etiology
Uncertain etiology, but possible nerve derivation
CLINICAL ISSUES
