The papilloma is a benign mucosal mass produced by a strain of the papillomavirus, the virus which produces skin warts. It seldom is large but may become a couple of centimeters across. It is painless, 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. In the throat a similar lesion may occasionally go on to cancer, but in the mouth this has never been reported. The papilloma is not contagious, like a wart, and can be removed by conservative surgery or laser destruction.