Oral verruca vulgaris: a rare case with transformation of papilloma to well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Variety of verrucous and papillary lesions affect the oral mucosa. These are either benign or reactive, for example, papilloma, verruca vulgaris, fibroepithelial polyp and verruciform xanthoma, which usually present with little diagnostic difficulty. However, dysplastic and malignant verrucous present with much greater diagnostic challenges. There is evidence of some carcinomatous changes in oral lesions with some pre existing predisposing factors. The common wart or verruca vulgaris are lesions of childhood. These are benign, elevated, firm nodules with characteristic papillomatous surface projections. The most common site of occurrence is the fingers. Oral lesions are relatively rare, and are usually caused by auto inoculation from lesions on the fingers and hands. This report describes a lesion which was histopathologically diagnosed as oral verruca vulgaris that occurred in a middle-aged woman without any history of wart like lesions elsewhere in the body. But later on expanded in size, became indurated involving entire lower lip, labial sulcus, alveolar ridge and floor of the mouth. It was histopathologically confirmed as well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma