Case Report: Oral Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia (Heck’s Disease)
Journal of Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists
Vol. 19, No. 3, October 2008 Page 27- 30
Case Report: Oral Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia (Heck’s Disease)
Omar M Alakloby* and Muhammad Akram Randhawa**
Departments of Dermatology* and Pharmacology**, College of Medicine, King Faisal University Dammam,
Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Oral focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), Heck’s Disease, is a relatively rare benign condition seen predominantly in children, caused by human papillomavirus and presents as multiple small white or pink papules on the mucosal surface of lips, buccal mucosa and tongue. Biopsy reveals epithelial hyperplasia, acanthosis, bulbous extension of rete ridges and focal or diffuse ballooning degeneration of spinous layer cells, with koilocytotic changes and nuclear inclusions. Lesions may be conservatively excised or treated with laser, cryotherapy or interferon-β. A case of 13-year old boy with FEH is described complaining of benign white plaques in the buccal mucosa of lower lip for 2 years, previously treated with liquid nitrogen without benefit and responded fairly well to acitretin (neotigason) for three months.
Journal of Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists
Vol. 19, No. 3, October 2008 Page 27- 30
Case Report: Oral Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia (Heck’s Disease)
Omar M Alakloby* and Muhammad Akram Randhawa**
Departments of Dermatology* and Pharmacology**, College of Medicine, King Faisal University Dammam,
Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Oral focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), Heck’s Disease, is a relatively rare benign condition seen predominantly in children, caused by human papillomavirus and presents as multiple small white or pink papules on the mucosal surface of lips, buccal mucosa and tongue. Biopsy reveals epithelial hyperplasia, acanthosis, bulbous extension of rete ridges and focal or diffuse ballooning degeneration of spinous layer cells, with koilocytotic changes and nuclear inclusions. Lesions may be conservatively excised or treated with laser, cryotherapy or interferon-β. A case of 13-year old boy with FEH is described complaining of benign white plaques in the buccal mucosa of lower lip for 2 years, previously treated with liquid nitrogen without benefit and responded fairly well to acitretin (neotigason) for three months.