Nodular fasciitis in the orofacial region.

Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, reactive proliferation of fibroblasts in subcutaneous tissues which commonly occurs in the deep fascia. It can only be diagnosed by histopathological examination of a biopsy. A total of 23 orofacial NF patients was analysed, including those reported in the English language literature and six new patients from the files of this hospital. All patients were treated between 1994 and 2005. The reported lesions were located in cheek masseter muscle, parotid gland, upper neck, upper gingiva and body of mandibular. The clinical and histological features and differential diagnoses are discussed. All lesions were removed under general or local anaesthesia and no recurrence of the lesions was found.