Soft-Tissue Lesions in Children

This article reviews some of the benign and malignant oral soft-tissue swellings that occur in children, with an emphasis on their clinical presentation, etiology, histopathology, and treatment. These lesions include single and multiple nodules, reactive lesions, and benign and malignant neoplasms. Diseases discussed include reactive gingival swelling, generalized gingival fibromatosis, melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy, fibromas, vascular lesions, salivary gland lesions, and infantile rhabdomyomas. Also covered are lesions that may present in multiples, such as neuromas, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2b, neurofibromatosis, and human papilloma virus–related benign epithelial lesions. Benign but locally aggressive and malignant neoplasms are discussed, such as aggressive fibromatosis, myofibromatosis, fibrosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma.