Hamartomas, choristomas and teratomas of the oral cavity: a contemporary narrative review

Hamartomas, choristomas and teratomas represent an important group of developmental lesions that may occur within the oral and maxillofacial region. Although each entity is benign in nature, their clinical and histopathological resemblance to odontogenic tumours, soft-tissue neoplasms and other intraoral proliferations frequently results in diagnostic uncertainty. The overlap in clinical appearance among these developmental lesions demands a clear understanding of their biological basis and diagnostic criteria. This review provides an updated narrative synthesis of the current perspectives on hamartomas, choristomas and teratomas of the oral cavity, including their etiopathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnostic considerations and management.