2020 Volume 58 Issue 3 Pages 173-181
Nodular fasciitis is a benign tumor that can be difficult to distinguish from malignant tumors. Nodular fasciitis usually arises in the subcutaneous fascia of the extremities and trunk but rarely occurs in the oral cavity. In this report, we describe a case of nodular fasciitis arising in the alveolar mucosa of a 4-year-old girl. Symptoms of local malocclusion, due to abnormal mobility and irregular inclination of the upper-right primary incisors, had rapidly worsened during the previous month. The roots of those incisors and surrounding alveolar bone in the lesion showed absorption in X-ray images, but cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images revealed the lesion to have a smooth margin. The tooth germ of the affected permanent incisors was also inclined. We suspected the lesion to be a tumor based on the clinical features. We performed an incisional biopsy, and nodular fasciitis was diagnosed according to the immunohistochemistry and histopathology findings. The tumor has not recurred postoperatively during a 7-year follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first report of nodular fasciitis occurring in the alveolar mucosa with bone absorption of a young child. In addition to describing this unique case, we review the literature regarding the diagnosis and management of nodular fasciitis.
