Adult Gingival Cyst with Marked Gingival Hyperplasia: A Rare Case Report
Researchers have reported first case of an adult gingival cyst associated with significant gingival inflammatory hyperplasia. The case broadens the known clinical presentation of adult gingival cysts and offers important insights for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The study was published in BMC Oral Health by Tang Z. and colleagues.
The case described here is very rare; hence, a 47-year-old lady case was investigated by the researchers where she had localized labial gingival enlargement accompanied with bleeding spontaneously from the region around her right upper anterior teeth for 18 months. Intraorally, a single, round, and noncystic appearing lesion was seen that was sessile in nature.
This lesion was found to be bright red in color, irregular in appearance, and was measured to have exact dimensions of 10 mm long, 6 mm wide, and 2 mm thick. Radiological investigation confirmed that there was horizontal bone resorption in the mesial and distal alveoli of the teeth but no dental involvement nor any cortical bone erosion.
For dealing with the lesion, a two-part treatment regimen was undertaken where non-surgical periodontal debridement was carried out to ensure local reduction in inflammation. After this procedure, the soft tissue lesion was surgically removed, and the resultant mucosal defect was repaired by way of coronally advanced flap repair surgery. The tissue sample that was excised was microscopically examined to ascertain the underlying cause of the lesion.
This led to the diagnosis of an odontogenic cyst, whose source was the dental lamina and which presented as inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia. This means that chronic irritation of the tissue resulted in superimposition of inflammation on top of the developing cyst. Complete healing took place with no complications. After a 12-month phone interview, no recurrence was observed.
To conclude, this novel case report is the first documentation of adult gingival cyst in association with marked gingival inflammation hyperplasia, thereby forming a precious learning aid for diagnosis and differential diagnosis for clinicians. The case serves to expand the clinical spectrum of adult gingival cysts through its revelation that a developmental cyst of the dental lamina can lie underneath a mass of tissue characterized by vascularity, bleeding, and intense inflammation. Clinicians should always keep their guards up when dealing with gingival growths, subjecting them to histopathological examination.
Reference:
Tang, Z., Xiao, J., Zhang, L. et al. Gingival cysts of the adult associated with gingival inflammation hyperplasia: a rare case report. BMC Oral Health (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-026-08544-8
