Key Points
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Foreign bodies often induce reparative granuloma formation or suppuration but can eventually have a different course, making diagnosis difficult.
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Although rare, maxillofacial foreign bodies can be misdiagnosed as odontogenic lesions, so correct diagnosis is essential to performing the appropriate treatment.
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Scanning electronic microscopy can be a useful method in identifying the origin of foreign bodies.
Abstract
We report a case of a palatal calcified foreign body simulating an odontogenic lesion. Surgical exploration revealed a calcified mass that was analysed under light microscopy and identified as a vegetal foreign body. Further scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the foreign body was a piece of wood. Hard palate foreign bodies have been reported previously, however, it seems that this is the first case of its kind.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge Adriano Luis Martins from the Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School - UNICAMP, for his SEM examination.
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Soubhia, A., Ribeiro, A., Martins, L. et al. Unusual wooden foreign body in the palate. Br Dent J 203, 573–574 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.1042
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.1042
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