A hump on the leg
Papilloma. In a series of 12 patients, it was round and whitish in 58.4%, soft in 66.7%, and held on a leg in 75%. In a study of 781 papillomas, 30% were on the palate, 30% on the tongue, 16% on the cheek, and 14% on the lips.
CONDITION / JAWS, MOUTH AND NECK
Papilloma in the mouth and on the lip.
Papilloma in the mouth is a benign growth of the mucous membrane caused by some types of the human papillomavirus. Nearby there are other benign formations: fibroids, vascular nodules, lipomas. You can definitely distinguish them from cancer only by examining the tissue, so a new lump in the mouth or on the lip should be shown to the doctor.
CONCEPTUAL VISUALIZATION- What it is
- Benign growths of the mucous membrane of the mouth and lips: papillomas, fibromas, vascular nodules, lipomas.
- Most often
- In a series of 790 patients, the most common benign oral tumors were fibroma (39.9%) and papilloma (22%).
- How we treat
- The tissue is removed and examined under a microscope to find out if the formation is not cancerous.
- Don't wait
- An ulcer for more than 3 weeks, a red or white spot, a seal, a lump on the neck is a reason for an urgent examination.
01 / WHAT IS ITWhat is
What is
papilloma in the mouth.
Papilloma is a benign outgrowth of the multilayered epithelium of the mucous membrane, which forms a papillary or warty tubercle. It, as well as warts, condyloma acuminata and focal epithelial hyperplasia (Heck's disease), is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Other benign formations of the mucous membrane are not related to the virus, but to irritation. Most often, these are fibrous growths: in one center, among 449 such cases, 62% were focal fibrous hyperplasia and 20% were pyogenic granuloma, vascular nodule. There are also lipomas and hemangiomas. A soft ball with saliva on the lip is a mucocele, a separate page about it.
Benign growths are not cancerous, but the doctor has two tasks: to distinguish them from cancer and to remove what is in the way. Some malignant tumors, in particular warty cancer, can look like a papilloma.
This is general information. The doctor will tell you what will suit you after the examination.
02 / SIGNSHow do they look?
How do they look?
benign formations.
These descriptions help you understand what you see, but are not a substitute for an examination: similar-looking formations can be of different nature.
The knot is where it is injured
Fibrous growth on the cheek or gums - where the mucous membrane is constantly bitten or rubbed. It can be on a leg or a wide base, up to several centimeters.
Vascular nodule on the gums
Pyogenic granuloma. In a series of 215 patients, 50.23% were on the gums of the upper jaw; 18 cases — in pregnant women.
A few bumps
Multiple tubercles on the mucous membrane occur with HPV - warts, condylomas, or Heck's disease. In a review of 95 descriptions of Heck's disease, the age of the patients was from 3 to 92 years.
Formation on the lip
In a series of 160 lip biopsies, mucocele was the most frequent (43.13%); fibroma and papilloma - 5% each.
Mukocele and RulaWhich no longer looks like a papilloma
An ulcer that does not heal, a red or white spot, a seal in the tissue are signs that should be checked first.
Tumors of the oral cavity03 / REASONSWhy they
Why they
appear
The cause depends on the type of formation: papillomas are associated with a virus, fibroids and pyogenic granulomas - with mucosal irritation.
Human papillomavirus
HPV is very common: most people will be infected with some type of it during their lifetime. Usually, it does not manifest itself in any way, and the body gets rid of it within 2 years.
How HPV is transmitted in the mouth
It has been associated with sexual behavior, but a 2018 review also suggests oral transmission. Babies often get the virus from their mothers — during pregnancy, childbirth, or later through saliva.
Irritation and trauma
Fibrous growths occur due to chronic irritation or trauma to the mucous membrane. For pyogenic granuloma, the main provoking factors in a series of 215 patients were irritation and inflammation of the gums due to poor oral hygiene.
Children
In a series of 59 children, papillomas were more often found on the tongue of the soft palate (27) and in the area of the tonsils (18) — mostly accidentally, during an examination for another reason.
04 / SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
When to seek medical advice?
A benign formation in the mouth does not require emergency care. But the fact that it is benign is determined by the doctor after an examination, and probably by histology, so you should show the new bumps and spots to the doctor, and not wait for a minute or so yourself. 103 is needed if it is difficult to breathe or swallow, the mouth is very swollen or the bleeding does not stop - especially after removal.
103 immediately if:
- breathing became difficult;
- sudden difficulty swallowing or speaking;
- swelling in the mouth is large;
- bleeding from the mouth or lip cannot be stopped;
- bright red blood comes out in spurts.
See a doctor without delay if:
Immediately - to the surgeon who removed the tumor (unable to contact - to the reception): pain or swelling increases after removal. On the same day: the wound turns red, pus comes out of it; high fever or general malaise. Urgently, without waiting for a scheduled appointment, to a dentist or maxillofacial surgeon: mouth ulcer does not heal for more than 3 weeks and it is not clear why; a lump appeared on the neck that does not go away; a new formation appeared in the mouth or on the lip; there is a red, red-white or white spot on the mucous membrane that does not disappear; a solid seal appeared in the mucous membrane. Don't expect it to go away. In the near future: pain in the mouth that does not go away. Planned: the formation has already been examined by a doctor, it does not change, but it interferes if you bite into it.
05 / DIAGNOSTICSAs defined,
As defined,
what kind of formation is this
- Review
The doctor examines and feels the mouth and lips, as well as the neck and jaw, asks when the bump appeared and whether it has changed.
- Why is there little review?
In a study of 1003 oral lesions, the exact diagnosis of the eye coincided with the histology in 61%. When the eye doctor considered the formation to be benign, he was right in 95.9% of cases, and only 48.6% of the precancerous and cancerous changes were recognized as suspicious by the eye.
- Histology
Formations are removed and the tissue is examined under a microscope. It is this study that finally confirms the diagnosis.
- Pictures as needed
If the mass is large or may come from the bone, images may be needed before surgery.
06 / TREATMENTHow to delete
How to delete
papillomas and other formations.
Benign mucosal formations are treated surgically: the tissue is removed and examined. Whether the formation will return depends on how much healthy mucosa is captured around it.
01
Removal
Formations are excised and sent for histology.
- Mucous supply
- In a multicenter study of 781 papillomas, 18 months after removal with a margin of 3 mm of healthy-looking mucosa, the success rate was 98.4% or higher. With a margin of 0–1 mm — only 29–38%.
- Scalpel or laser
- In the same study, lasers of different types and scalpels did not significantly differ in repetition frequency.
- Fibroma
- Fibrous growths are treated by excision; they return, according to a review of one center, infrequently.
02
Reappearance
- Pyogenic granuloma
- In a series of 215 patients, it recurred in 14.88% — mainly in women, on the gums in the front part of the upper jaw.
- Children
- In a series of 59 children, no recurrence was observed in 25 who were examined after removal, but only after an average of 74.7 days.
03
Virus
- Treatment of HPV itself
- There is no cure for the infection itself: the formations that it caused are treated.
- Vaccine
- The HPV vaccine protects against the types that cause most genital warts and cervical cancer and some other cancers, but not all types of the virus. In a review of 153 children with HPV lesions in the mouth, no description mentioned vaccination; this is an observation, not proof of protection against oral papillomas.
07 / AT THE VALIKHNOVSKYI INSTITUTE
How
How
we treat it.
Benign formations of the mucous membrane of the mouth and lips at Dr. Valikhnovskyi's Institute of Surgery belong to the "New Face" direction. The surgeon finds out if there are any signs that need to be checked first, and together with you decides what and how to remove. If the histology shows cancer, further treatment will be planned together with the oncologist.
CLINIC SERVICE
A new face
Form, symmetry, facial expressions and functions after injuries, wounds, burns, removal of tumors and congenital changes.
View service
What we do for this condition
- Consultation and review — the surgeon examines the mouth, lips and neck, finds out how long ago the formation appeared and whether it has changed.
- Personal plan — method of removal taking into account location and size; the removed tissue must be examined.
- CT scan if necessary — if the formation is large or may be associated with bone.
- Recovery after deletion — if a defect remains on the lip after removal of a large formation, it is closed with local flaps, the closest in color and texture; in one operation, if the edges of the incision are clean, otherwise - after histology.
Rostislav Valikhnovskyi
Plastic surgeon, candidate of medical sciences, founder of Dr. Valikhnovskyi Institute of Surgery.
How treatment works with us
- Photo onlineSend a photo of the formation in the mouth or on the lip - the doctor will first assess the situation.
- ConsultationExamination of the mouth, lips and neck; if necessary, pictures.
- PlanWhether removal is necessary, where and how to do it, and whether lip reconstruction is needed.
- Outcome and supervisionDiscussion of the histology report and follow-up examinations to avoid recurrence.
08 / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSCommon
Common
questions
Short answers. What is right for you, the doctor will tell you during the consultation.
Is papilloma in the mouth dangerous?
Papilloma is a benign formation, and the authors of a series of 12 patients estimate the probability that it will become malignant as small. But cancer can look similar to it, so the formation is examined after removal.
Can it be determined that this is a papilloma without histology?
Only approximately. Doctors often recognize papillomas, but in a study of 1,003 oral lesions, the exact diagnosis by eye coincided with histology in only 61%. Finally, the diagnosis is confirmed by the examination of the tissue.
Is papilloma in the mouth contagious?
It is caused by HPV, and it is very common. There is evidence that the virus can be transmitted from mouth to mouth. Usually, the body gets rid of the virus within 2 years.
Where does a papilloma in a child's mouth come from?
Babies are more likely to get HPV from their mothers — during pregnancy, childbirth, or later through saliva. In children, papillomas are often found accidentally, most often on the tongue of the soft palate.
Will the papilloma return after removal?
This is possible. In a study of 781 papilloma recurrences were the least when removed with a margin of 3 mm of healthy-looking mucosa.
Which is better — a laser or a scalpel?
In a study of 781 papillomas, the frequency of recurrence after laser and after scalpel did not differ significantly. A supply of tissues around is more important.
Will papilloma become cancer if HPV is "bad"?
Prolonged HPV infection and additional factors are required to progress to cancer. In a series of 197 patients with papillary formations, the risk of cancer was higher in people over 60 years of age and when the formation was on the gums, which especially required histology.
Sources
21 sources · reviews, NICE guidance, NHS pages and researchshowCollapse
- HPV-Related Papillary Lesions of the Oral Mucosa: A ReviewHead and Neck Pathology, 2019doi:10.1007/s12105-019-01003-7 ↗
- Oral manifestations of human papillomavirus infectionsEuropean Journal of Oral Sciences, 2018doi:10.1111/eos.12538 ↗
- Oral benign neoplasms: A retrospective study of 790 patients over a 14-year periodActa Otorrinolaringológica Española, 2019doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2018.04.005 ↗
- Relative frequency of oral focal reactive overgrowths: An institutional retrospective studyJournal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 2020doi:10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_350_19 ↗
- Oral pyogenic granuloma — a review of 215 cases in a South Indian Teaching Hospital, Karnataka, over a period of 20 yearsOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2012doi:10.1007/s10006-012-0315-z ↗
- A 15-year retrospective study of 160 cases of benign lip lesionsJournal of Laryngology & Otology, 2015doi:10.1017/S0022215115002923 ↗
- Clinicopathologic features of oral squamous papilloma and papillary squamous cell carcinoma: a study of 197 patients from eastern ChinaAnnals of Diagnostic Pathology, 2012doi:10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2012.04.001 ↗
- Oral squamous papilloma: clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical analysesJournal of Oral Science, 2009doi:10.2334/josnusd.51.367 ↗
- Success Rate of Benign Oral Squamous Papilloma Treatments After Different Surgical Protocols (Conventional, Nd:YAG, CO2 and Diode 980 nm Lasers): A 34-Year Retrospective StudyPhotobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2021doi:10.1089/photob.2020.4916 ↗
- Squamous papilloma of the oral cavity and oropharynx in childrenInternational Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2025doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2025.112424 ↗
- Oral Human Papillomavirus Benign Lesions and HPV-Related Cancer in Healthy Children: A Systematic ReviewCancers, 2023doi:10.3390/cancers15041096 ↗
- An update on Heck’s disease — a systematic reviewJournal of Public Health, 2022doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdaa256 ↗
- The Accuracy of Clinical Diagnosis of Oral Lesions and Patient-Specific Risk Factors that Affect DiagnosisJournal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2015doi:10.1016/j.joms.2015.04.026 ↗
- Concordance between clinical and histopathologic diagnoses of oral mucosal lesionsJournal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2011doi:10.1016/j.joms.2010.07.075 ↗
- Concordance Between Clinical and Histopathological Diagnoses of Oral and Maxillofacial Lesions in Thailand: A 20-Year Retrospective StudyJournal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, 2025doi:10.4317/jced.62771 ↗
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)NHS, 2026nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv ↗
- Mouth cancer: symptomsNHS, 2023nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer/symptoms ↗
- Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12) — recommendations organised by site of cancerNICE, 2026nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12/chapter/Recommendations-organised-by-site-of-cancer ↗
- Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12) — terms used in this guidelineNICE, 2026nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12/chapter/Terms-used-in-this-guideline ↗
- Cuts and grazesNHS, 2026nhs.uk/conditions/cuts-and-grazes ↗
- Dental abscessNHS, 2026nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess ↗
The figures on the page are from these sources.
A hump in the mouth
does it not last on the lip?
Send a photo of the formation. The doctor will tell if removal is necessary and how to examine the tissue.