Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

The condition that is likely to recur if untreated and can present as a mass in the oral cavity is the giant cell granuloma. This lesion often arises in response to local irritation or trauma and commonly occurs in the jaw bones or soft tissues of the oral cavity, particularly in the gingiva.

Giant cell granulomas are characterized by the presence of multinucleated giant cells and are inflammatory in nature. They have a tendency to persist and can recur after excision, especially if the underlying irritant is not addressed. The histological features and the clinical behavior of these lesions make them distinctly notable in dental practice.

In contrast, conditions like a fibrous epulis, although they may also present as a mass in the oral cavity and have the potential to recur, are usually less aggressive and often associated with dental plaque or calculus. Lipomas are fatty tumors that are generally asymptomatic and have a low recurrence rate following excision. Haematomas are localized collections of blood, typically resulting from trauma, and are generally self-limiting without significant propensity for recurrence as long as the source of trauma is managed.