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What are oral tumors?
An epulis (plural epuli) is the clinical name for a swelling on the gums. Several different tumors share this name, often of different origins including the tooth-socket lining and lining epithelium of the mouth. Most epuli are not cancerous but overgrowths (hyperplasias) as a reaction to trauma. These are fibrous (’fibrous hyperplasia’ or ’fibromatous epulis’). If they are more active, often with bone formation, they are called ’peripheral odontogenic fibroma’ (POF) or ’fibromatous and ossifying epulis’). These originate from the tooth forming tissue. A few of this type are cancerous but benign. Occasionally, these become more malignant and invade locally. Rarely, there is spread to lymph nodes (glands) as fibrosarcomas.

What are fibrosarcomas?
Oral fibrosarcomas are rapidly growing, malignant tumors originating from the fibrous connective tissue of the mouth. The tumors are rarely cured by surgical removal. Recurrence in the mouth and spread to other parts of the body (metastasis) are common.