Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Spongiotic gingival hyperplasia (SGH) is a rare inflammatory gingival condition that exhibits characteristic histopathologic features. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the reported histopathologic features of SGH.
STUDY DESIGN
A systematic review of SGH literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement was performed. PubMed, Wiley, and Web of Science were searched for publications of biopsy-proven SGH cases.
RESULTS
In total, 25 articles were included (289 patients). SGH occurred mostly in the first two decades with equal sex distribution. Multifocal lesions were reported in 13.5% of patients. A predilection for the maxillary anterior gingiva was noted. The majority of lesions were covered by non-keratinized epithelium (73.6%). Acanthosis/hyperplasia was noted in 88.4% of cases, and neutrophilic transmigration was noted 62.0% of cases. Highly vascular lamina propria was a common feature. Moreover, 99% of cases stained for cytokeratin 19 demonstrated positivity throughout the full epithelial thickness. Excision was the most common treatment, and the majority of cases resolved.
CONCLUSIONS
SGH is a reactive gingival pathology that primarily occurs in adolescents. The histopathologic features of SGH consistently reported were hyperplastic non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with spongiosis and prominent vascular stroma. Surgical excision was curative in the majority of cases.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD420251170524.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Spongiotic gingival hyperplasia: a systematic review of histopathologic features.
AU - Alabdulaaly,Lama,
AU - Almazyad,Asma,
Y1 - 2026/03/26/
PY - 2026/1/3/received
PY - 2026/2/14/revised
PY - 2026/2/26/accepted
PY - 2026/4/13/medline
PY - 2026/4/13/pubmed
PY - 2026/4/13/entrez
PY - 2026/3/26/pmc-release
KW - biopsy
KW - gingiva
KW - gingival hyperplasia
KW - gingivitis
KW - oral pathology
SP - 1780111
EP - 1780111
JF - Frontiers in oral health
JO - Front Oral Health
VL - 7
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Spongiotic gingival hyperplasia (SGH) is a rare inflammatory gingival condition that exhibits characteristic histopathologic features. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the reported histopathologic features of SGH. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of SGH literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement was performed. PubMed, Wiley, and Web of Science were searched for publications of biopsy-proven SGH cases. RESULTS: In total, 25 articles were included (289 patients). SGH occurred mostly in the first two decades with equal sex distribution. Multifocal lesions were reported in 13.5% of patients. A predilection for the maxillary anterior gingiva was noted. The majority of lesions were covered by non-keratinized epithelium (73.6%). Acanthosis/hyperplasia was noted in 88.4% of cases, and neutrophilic transmigration was noted 62.0% of cases. Highly vascular lamina propria was a common feature. Moreover, 99% of cases stained for cytokeratin 19 demonstrated positivity throughout the full epithelial thickness. Excision was the most common treatment, and the majority of cases resolved. CONCLUSIONS: SGH is a reactive gingival pathology that primarily occurs in adolescents. The histopathologic features of SGH consistently reported were hyperplastic non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with spongiosis and prominent vascular stroma. Surgical excision was curative in the majority of cases. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420251170524.
SN - 2673-4842
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/prime/citation/41969403/Spongiotic_gingival_hyperplasia:_a_systematic_review_of_histopathologic_features.
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
