Pathology · single question
CASE 10 — Patient notices a firm, sessile bump on the cheek that can be felt with the tongue. Most likely primary cause?
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Correct answer: A. Reactive/local irritation
- A. A firm, sessile lesion on the buccal mucosa is most commonly a traumatic/reactive fibroma — the MOST COMMON soft tissue tumor-like lesion of the oral cavity. It represents reactive hyperplasia to chronic local irritation (cheek biting, denture friction). The firm consistency and sessile attachment are classic.
- B. Acute trauma causes hematoma or ecchymosis, not a firm sessile bump.
- C. Developmental lesions are typically present from birth or early in life, not recently noticed in an adult.
- D. While neoplasms must be ruled out (biopsy), statistically a firm sessile buccal lesion is a fibroma first.