A rare benign odontogenic neoplasm: peripheral odontogenic fibroma.

The peripheral odontogenic fibroma is a relatively rare, benign, unencapsulated and gingival mass of fibrous connective tissue, considered to be the extraosseous counterpart of the central odontogenic fibroma. Peripheral odontogenic fibroma was earlier quite commonly confused with peripheral ossifying fibroma, until WHO classification (1992), classified it under odontogenic tumours. Peripheral odontogenic fibroma is seen so infrequently that little is known about this neoplasm; the largest series of cases have been that of Farman who found five cases in the literature and added another 10 cases. Through this case report we try to clarify the features of this condition and attempt to clear its distinction with other commonly occurring conditions.