What is a Squamous Papilloma?
Squamous papillomas (SP) are common warty growths
found in the mouth (they account for 3 - 4% of all biopsied
oral soft tissue lesions).
SP’s of the mouth occurs at all ages of life but is usually
diagnosed in persons between 30 - 50 years of age.
There is no gender predilection and any surface of the
mouth may be affected (most commonly though on the
tongue, lips or cheek surfaces).
What is the Cause of Squamous Papilloma?
Many are thought to be due to viral infection of the skin by
the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a commonly occurring
virus that is also responsible for the common wart (Verruca
While all HPV lesions are infective, the SP appears to have
an extremely low virulence and infectivity rate; it does not
seem to be contagious.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Typical presentation of the SP is of painless, solitary or
multiple nodules measuring between 0.5cm to 3cm.
It is usually white but sometimes pink and has long or short
surface projections with rounded or pointed ends. It often
is on a stalk and only one lesion is usually found. Once
present, it remains indefinitely.
|Photo of Squamous Papilloma on left tongue ventrum
|Last Updated 18th August 2010