Oral focal epithelial hyperplasia - symptoms and how to test
Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH) or Heck disease is a benign growth of the oral squamous epithelium that is caused by a virus and most often affects children and teens. It seems to prefer people born in North America, but it is not limited to them as was once thought. Cases that involve people from all over the world are now well known. HPV is the cause, and HPV serotypes 13 and 32 are the ones that are most often found. It is marked by many nodular soft tissue masses all over the mucosal surfaces, especially the buccal mucosa, tongue, and gingiva. Lesions can look like single or groups of papules, often the same colour as the mucosa around them. If they are in places where there has been occlusal trauma, the keratinization may make them look white.
