Abstract
AIM/OBJECTIVE: Mucosal neuroma (MN) is a benign peripheral nerve tumour that usually occurs as a symptom of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B) (MEN2B-associated MN). MN that is not associated with MEN2B is termed solitary mucosal neuroma (SMN). We present a case of SMN in the upper gingiva and examine previously reported cases. METHODS: The study included nine patients (eight from seven articles and one from this study) with SMN. Age of onset, sex, disease duration, tumour site, clinical findings including subjective symptoms, diagnostic method, treatment, prognosis and relationship with MEN2B were investigated in these nine patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SMN is thought to be caused by the overproduction of nerve growth factors due to trauma or chronic continuous stimulation, whereas MEN2B-associated MN is caused by GNDF-induced hyperplasia. Considering the pathogenesis of their development, both diseases exhibit hyperplasia of the nerve fibre bundles and have the same histological type of hypertrophy. MNs (SMN and MEN2B-induced MN) must be differentiated from benign peripheral neurogenic tumours. Morphological recognition and immunohistopathological analyses make this differentiation possible.