Oral Pathology

Fordyce granules( fordyce disease)

Gerlyn BraganzaLeave a comment
Pathology Outlines - Fordyce granules

What are Fordyce granules? How does it occur ?

  • Firstly it isn’t a disease as the name says it.
  • Rather this can be called a developmental anomaly.
  • It is characterised by heterotopic collection of sebaceous glands in various sites of the oral cavity.
  • It is said that the occurance of sebaceous glands in the mouth may be by inclusion in the oral cavity of the ectoderm.
  • This has some of the potentialities of skin during the development of the maxillary and the mandibular processes during the embryonic life.

Clinical features-

1.Appearance-

  • as yellow spots, seperated
  • or forming large plaques
  • project slightly above the suface of tissue
Sebaceous glands (Fordyce spots or Tyson glands)

2. Site of appearance- found frequently in a bilateral symmetical pattern

  • mucosa of cheeks (opposite the molar teeth)
  • inner surface of lips
  • retromolar region
  • tongue
  • gingiva
  • palate
  • frenum

Besides the oral cavity they also appear in the oesophagus ,the female genital tract ,cervix uteri, male genitilia ,nipples, palms ,soles ,parotid ,larynx and the orbit .

3. Usually seen more in adults than children . This is due to the better development of sebaceous glands and hair system is not seen until puberty.

Histology

  • These are heterotopic collection of sebaceous glands and they are identical with those that are seen in the skin.
  • But they are unassociated with hair follicles and hair shaft from the gingiva. (this may be a very rare occurance )
  • Glands are located superficially.
  • There may be few or many lobules.
  • They are grouped around one duct or more ducts and they open at the surface of the mucosa .
  • The ducts may show keratin plugging.

Treatment-

It requires no treatment.

source – textbook of oral pathology shafers and google images .

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