Palatal Pyogenic Granuloma Suspected of Malignant Tumor: A Case Report and Literature Review

Pyogenic granuloma is a nonneoplastic inflammatory reactive hyperplasia commonly found in the soft tissues of the skin and oral mucosa. Oral pyogenic granulomas are usually found on the lips, gingiva, and tongue, but rarely on the palate. Surgical excision is the standard treatment for oral pyogenic granulomas. If it occurs on the palate, it is important to differentiate it from salivary gland tumors. Additionally, managing the disease with attention to recurrence is important. In this report, we present the case of a 66-year-old man who presented to the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Medicine at Hokkaido University Hospital with a mass lesion between the soft and hard palates. The patient was followed up for one year, but the lesion gradually enlarged and was accompanied by hemorrhage. Because of the atypical clinical course of the lesion, it was excised with a 7 mm safety margin, considering the possibility of palatal malignancy. Histopathological examination revealed oral pyogenic granuloma. When treating palatal tumors, clinicians should consider the possibility of minor salivary gland tumors, including malignancies.