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This report describes a case of gingival fibromatosis in an otherwise healthy and well nourished wild European red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which was shot by a hunter and submitted to the state laboratory in the context of the rabies monitoring program of the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany. At necropsy, a severe papillomatous proliferation of the complete gingival tissue of the upper and lower jaw was present. This gingival proliferation had already resulted in malocclusion, loosening and loss of several incisival, premolar and molar teeth. Histologically, the primary lesion was a massive increase in the amount of collagen rich and relatively avascular connective tissue within the gingival lamina propria mucosae. A papillomavirus infection was excluded by electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and molecular biological methods. The gingival lesions in the red fox are identical to those seen in hereditary hyperplastic gingivitis in farmed silver foxes and hereditary gingival fibromatosis in man. It is presumed that, in analogy to the genetic diseases in silver foxes and man, a still unidentified genetic defect is responsible for the development of the disease in the red fox, too.

Aggressive fibromatosis (AF) involving bones of the head is rare and surgery is often complicated by a high recurrence rate. Interdisciplinary treatment is of the utmost importance to avoid extensive, mutilating resection. Two cases emphasize the difficulties in the management.A 67-year-old woman was referred to our unit with a blepharochalasis of the left upper palpebra and a palsy of the face on the left side. Her medical history included 12 operations over the previous 4 years for an extensive AF.Our review includes all case reports of AF involving bones of the head published between 1960 and 2004. Additionally, our two cases are presented. Signs, symptoms and outcome were analyzed in relation to different treatment options.According to the literature, surgery is the most common treatment for AF in the head and neck region. Alternative modes of therapy must be considered because of the high recurrence rate and to avoid mutilating operations.

It is reported on a 14-year-old girl with a hirsutism gingival fibromatosis syndrome, which is combined with moderate generalised muscle hypotonia, inhibition of physical maturation, severe scoliosis, diastasis recti abdominis and aplasia of a rib. Psychically there are idioty, autism and severe selfinjurious behaviour.

A 45 year old woman with Pringle's disease (adenoma sebaceum), gingival and digital fibromas is reported, who had also characteristical skeletal lesions. Three of five children have cutaneous lesions, one of them also skeletal lesions.

The author describes a case of excessive gingival hyperplasia in a 9-year-old girl under hydantoin medication. The hyperplasia of the gingivae inhibited the regular uptake of food and the eruption of the permanent teeth.