Oral Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia in a Patient with Graft-versus-host Disease: A Case Report

Patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) frequently experience immunodeficiency, predisposing them to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and viral infection. The oral cavity is a common organ affected by chronic GVHD(cGVHD), which can lead to the development of secondary malignant tumors such as verruciform xanthoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), an uncommon and asymptomatic condition caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 13 or 32, can affect the oral mucosa. This case report describes a patient with cGVHD following allo-HSCT who developed extensive FEH in the oral mucosa. This observation underscores the importance of regular oral examinations for transplant recipients, particularly those with cGVHD, to monitor HPV infection and the potential development of FEH.