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oral papilloma

(OR-ul PA-pih-LOH-muh)
A benign (not cancer), wart-like growth that occurs on the lips or in the mouth, including the tongue, gums, tonsils, and back of the throat. Oral papillomas often appear as pink or white bumps that may be different sizes. They are usually painless and do not cause symptoms. Oral papillomas may be caused by chronic infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). They may also be found in people with a rare, inherited condition called Cowden syndrome. Oral papillomas most often occur in adults.
Two-panel photograph showing the tongues of two individuals with Cowden syndrome. The left panel shows a tongue covered with many small white bumps. The right panel shows a tongue with larger, irregularly shaped growths on its surface.Enlarge this image in new window
Oral papillomas are benign (not cancer), wart-like growths that occur on the lips or in the mouth, including the tongue, and may be different sizes. They may be seen in people with Cowden syndrome, a hereditary syndrome associated with the development of several types of cancer.
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