Florid follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the palate: review of the literature and report of an illustrative case.

This article focuses on florid follicular lymphoid hyperplasia (FLH) of the palate, a rare benign lymphoproliferative lesion characterized by reactive lymphoid proliferation. A comprehensive review of 32 cases, including a newly reported one, reveals that most patients are over 60 years old with a strong female predilection, and approximately one-third have a history of maxillary denture wear, suggesting chronic irritation as a possible contributing factor. Clinically, palatal FLHs present as painless, well-circumscribed masses varying in color and consistency, often mistaken for salivary gland tumors, necessitating thorough histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation to exclude lymphoma. Treatment primarily involves surgical excision, with a reported recurrence rate of 16%, and no documented malignant transformation in oral cases to date; thus, annual follow-up for at least five years is recommended to monitor for recurrence or neoplastic change.