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Extensive central ossifying fibroma of mandible: case report

ABSTRACT

A 34-year-old female patient attended a referral center for oral diagnosis presenting hardened increased volume in the posterior mandible. Panoramic radiography revealed a mixed unilocular lesion with clear and well-defined limits. The incisional biopsy showed proliferation of mesenchymal cells amid dense fibrous connective tissue. Mineralized material in different degrees of maturation was also observed. Regarding the histopathological aspects associated with the clinical, radiographic, and intraoperative data, the diagnosis of central ossifying fibroma (COF) was performed. COF has similar characteristics to other fibro-osseous lesions, and its diagnosis is a challenge for dental surgeons.

Key words:
ossifying fibroma; oral pathology; diagnosis

RESUMEN

Paciente de 34 años de edad, acudió a un centro de referencia odontológico con aumento de volumen endurecido en la mandíbula posterior. La radiografía panorámica reveló lesión unilocular mixta, de límites precisos y definidos. La biopsia incisional demostró una proliferación de células mesenquimales en medio de un tejido conectivo fibroso denso. Aún se observó material mineralizado en diferentes grados de maduración. Considerando la histopatología, asociada a los datos clínicos, radiográficos y transquirúrgicos, el diagnóstico de fibroma osificante central (FOC) se reveló. El FOC presenta características similares a las de otras lesiones fibro-óseas, y su diagnóstico es un desafío para los cirujanos dentales.

Palabras clave:
fibroma osificante; patología bucal; diagnóstico

RESUMO

Paciente do sexo feminino, 34 anos, compareceu a um centro de referência em diagnóstico oral apresentando aumento de volume endurecido em mandíbula posterior. A radiografia panorâmica revelou lesão unilocular mista, de limites precisos e definidos. A biópsia incisional evidenciou uma proliferação de células mesenquimais em meio a um tecido conjuntivo fibroso denso. Foi observado ainda material mineralizado em diferentes graus de maturação. Considerando os aspectos histopatológicos, associados aos dados clínicos, radiográficos e transcirúrgicos, o diagnóstico de fibroma ossificante central (FOC) foi revelado. O FOC apresenta características similares às de outras lesões fibro-ósseas, e seu diagnóstico é um desafio para os cirurgiões-dentistas.

Unitermos:
fibroma ossificante; patologia bucal; diagnóstico

INTRODUCTION

The central ossifying fibroma (COF) was first described in 1842 by Menzel and received this name by Montgomery in 192711 Titinchi F, Morkel J. Ossifying fibroma: analysis of treatment methods and recurrence patterns. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016; 74(12): 2409-19.

2 Costa PJP. Fibroma ossificante central: relato de caso. [course conclusion paper]. Manaus (AM): Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; 2017.
-33 Franco AVM, Ferreira SMS, Oliveira CRR, Diniz AP, Nascimento JDR. Fibroma ossificante central: relato de caso. Rev Eletrônica Acervo Saúde. 2018; 17(193): 1-5.. It is a rare benign fibro-osseous neoplasia that predominantly affects the craniofacial region44 Bala TK, Soni S, Dayal P, Ghosh I. Cemento-ossifying fibroma of the mandible. Saudi Med J. 2017; 38(5): 541-5.. This lesion corresponds to the clinicopathological variant of ossifying fibromas of odontogenic origin, and can also be called cementifying fibroma or cemento-ossifying fibroma55 El-Naggar AK, Chan J, Takata T, Grandis J, Blootweg P. WHO Classification of tumors. Pathology and Genetics of Head and Neck Tumors. 4th ed. Lyon: IARC Press; 2017..

COF has a peak incidence between the third and fourth decades of life(1, 2, 6). It has a predilection for women, with a female to male ratio of 5:1; the mandible represents the most affected site, with an incidence of 70%-90% of cases(5, 7).

The final diagnosis of COF is based on a detailed analysis of the medical history, radiographic features, intraoperative findings, and histopathological characteristics, since the fibro-osseous lesions present significant overlap in the histological appearance; an appropriate correlation of all these characteristics is essential to achieve a reliable diagnosis(8, 9).

COF treatment includes enucleation and curettage; for larger lesions, surgical resection is indicated77 Kharsan V, Madan RS, Rathod P, Balani A, Tiwari S, Sharma S. Large ossifying fibroma of jaw bone: a rare case report. Pan Afr Med J. 2018; 30: 306.. The recurrence rate of these lesions in the mandible is around 6% to 28%. Due to the difficulty of maxillary surgical removal this rate is unknown, but it is believed to be higher22 Costa PJP. Fibroma ossificante central: relato de caso. [course conclusion paper]. Manaus (AM): Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; 2017..

This study aimed to report a case of COF in the mandible, evaluating and emphasizing the importance of clinical, imaging, intraoperative, and histopathological information for the correct diagnosis of benign fibro-osseous lesions.

CASE REPORT

A 34-year-old female patient attended to a dental appointment complaining about increased volume in the mandibular region. On intraoral physical examination an increase asymptomatic hardened slow growing volume was observed in the vestibular region of elements 46, 47, and 48, normal colored mucosa; the average time of evolution was not informed. The extraoral physical examination revealed normal regional lymph nodes.

Panoramic radiography revealed a unilocular mixed lesion, with radiopaque foci, well-defined limits, bone expansion, and displacement of the mandibular canal (Figure 1). Based on this finding, an incisional biopsy was performed; the dentist reported easy detachment of the lesion from the adjacent healthy bone. Surgical specimens were sent for histopathological analysis.

FIGURE 1
Radiographic findings of the lesion. Radiolucent image showing radiopaque foci, with well-defined limits, in the right region of the mandibular body

Numerous fragments of brown-yellow color have irregular appearance, fibrous and hardened consistency was evidenced in the macroscopic examination.

Histopathological analysis revealed proliferation of mesenchymal cells with morphology varying from spindle to oval shapes amid a dense fibrous connective tissue. Mineralized material was also observed in different degrees of maturation, sometimes forming trabeculae composing entrapped osteocytes and osteoblastic surface layer, sometimes forming basophilic spherules (Figure 2A-D).

FIGURE 2
Histopathological characteristics

Therefore, the histopathological findings associated with clinical and radiographic aspects and the intraoperative information allowed the final diagnosis of COF. The patient underwent complete enucleation and curettage of the lesion, after six months, she is currently monitored, with no signs of recurrence.

DISCUSSION

Menzel first described a variant of COF in the mandible in 184244 Bala TK, Soni S, Dayal P, Ghosh I. Cemento-ossifying fibroma of the mandible. Saudi Med J. 2017; 38(5): 541-5.. In 1972, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified COF as cement-forming lesions, which also included fibrous dysplasia1010 Thackray AC, Sobin LH. International histological classification of tumors n. 7. Genebra: World Health Organization; 1972.. However, the latest WHO classifications, from 2005 to the last in 2017, changed the term cemento-ossifying fibroma and central ossifying fibroma to ossifying fibroma(5, 11). Despite this, many authors prefer the term COF to differentiate it from its variant that occurs in soft tissues: the peripheral ossifying fibroma, which is considered a reactive non-neoplastic lesion.

Therefore, COF is considered a true neoplasm, of odontogenic origin, specifically from the periodontal ligament, which is composed of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells capable of forming bone, fibrous tissue, and cement. There is an assumption that this lesion would be the result of some stimulus induced by previous dental extraction or some other traumatic agent, or would simply be linked to a disturbance of bone maturation of congenital origin. However, there is no scientific evidence to justify and support this hypothesis(2, 7, 12).

The epidemiological profile of COF has been extensively studied over the years; it occurs mainly in adult women and in the posterior region of the mandible, especially in the premolars and molars region1313 Junior FAAL, Cunha JLS, Rosa CR, Fonte JBM, Melo MFB, Junior RLCA. Fibroma ossificante central em mandíbula: relato de caso. Interfaces Científicas Saúde e Ambiente. 2017; 5(2): 33-40..

During clinical analysis, these lesions appear as an slow-growing increased volume, usually with no symptoms; facial asymmetry is rare77 Kharsan V, Madan RS, Rathod P, Balani A, Tiwari S, Sharma S. Large ossifying fibroma of jaw bone: a rare case report. Pan Afr Med J. 2018; 30: 306.. When they exhibit extensive dimensions, they can displace tooth roots, cause root resorption of adjacent teeth, and expand the lower edge of the mandible or the floor of the maxillary sinus66 Dominguete MHL, Dominguette AAS, Matos BH, Dominguette PR, León JE, Oliveira LR. Extensive presentation of central ossifying fibroma treated with conservative surgical excision. Case Rep Dent. 2014; 2014: 1-4..

Therefore, this case is in line with the demographic characteristics of gender, age, and lesion location, classically described for this neoplasm. The clinical presentation and the pattern of tumor growth observed also fit the descriptions reported in the literature, which refer to slow and asymptomatic tumor growth33 Franco AVM, Ferreira SMS, Oliveira CRR, Diniz AP, Nascimento JDR. Fibroma ossificante central: relato de caso. Rev Eletrônica Acervo Saúde. 2018; 17(193): 1-5..

Radiographically, COFs appear as single well-defined radiolucency with radiopaque foci, whose radiopacity varies according to the amount of mineralized material that has been deposited. On the other hand, it is important to highlight that there is no relationship between intensity of mineralization and tumor growth rate, not even with the time of evolution of the lesion(2, 14). Eversole et al. (1985)1515 Eversole LR, Leider AS, Nelson K. Ossifying fibroma: a clinicopathologic study of sixty-four cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1985; 60: 505-11. described two main radiographic patterns: expandable unilocular radiolucency and multilocular configuration. These types tend to expand the surrounding cortical bone without perforating the cortical, featuring a centrifugal growth pattern, with equal expansion in all directions. This is a diagnostic feature for COF44 Bala TK, Soni S, Dayal P, Ghosh I. Cemento-ossifying fibroma of the mandible. Saudi Med J. 2017; 38(5): 541-5..

A retrospective study by Titinchi and Morkel (2016)11 Titinchi F, Morkel J. Ossifying fibroma: analysis of treatment methods and recurrence patterns. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016; 74(12): 2409-19. revealed almost 49.2% of COF lesions as radiopaque, 34.9% as mixed, and only15.9% as radiolucent. Furthermore, 84.1% of the lesions were unilocular on panoramic radiographs and only 15.9% of the cases were multilocular; these lesions were more prominent in the lower posterior regions and in patients younger than 20 years. The authors also found about 93.6% of lesions with well-defined margins, easily differentiating them from the healthy bone. The results of this work corroborate the imaging findings of the case presented, which demonstrated a mixed unilocular pattern in the well-defined posterior mandibular region, with easy detachment of the adjacent healthy bone.

Several lesions may show clinical and radiographic features similar to COF. The differential diagnosis is essential to provide strategic data for establishing the final diagnosis. Fibrous dysplasia represents the main lesion to be distinguished radiographically from COF, but it is classically observed as a lesion consisting of diffuse and irregular radiopacity, with “ground-glass” appearance and very imprecise margins, often found in the posterior region of the maxilla(4, 13). Also some lesions do not differ from COF by radiographic examination, such as calcifying odontogenic cyst and calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor; thus, histopathological characteristics are essential for the final diagnosis88 Mainville G N, Turgeon DP, Kauzman A. Diagnosis and management of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Oral Dis. 2017; 23(4): 440-50..

Histologically, COF is presented as a proliferation of fibrous cellular tissue that contains a variable amount of mineralized material. The degree of cellularity varies widely, with hypocellular and collagenized areas that merge with hypercellular areas. The mineralized material may be presented as bone trabeculae or basophilic ovoid cementum-like structures. Tumors usually have a combination of these calcified structures. COF bone trabeculae may still present surface layer of osteoblasts(8, 9).

The histopathological diagnosis of COF in the absence of solid clinical and radiographic information is a challenge, even for experienced pathologists. This difficulty occurs due to histopathological similarities found between COF and other fibro-osseous lesions, such as fibrous dysplasia (FD) and osseous dysplasia (OD)1616 Phattarataratip E, Pholjaroen C, Tiranon P. A clinicopathologic analysis of 207 cases of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Int J Surg Pathol. 2013; 22(4): 326-33.. In FD, osteoblastic surface layer is usually absent; fibrous connective tissue contains less cellularity; there is a minimal amount or absence of spherical basophilic mineralized deposits; and the lesion is present in continuity with the adjacent bone, unlike the COF. Whereas, OD presents stroma with hemorrhagic foci; osteoblastic surface layer is scarcely observed; and the lesion is in continuity with the adjacent bone, as well as in the FD. However, cementoid masses are irregular, with no brush border, which differentiates it from COF, whose masses are generally ovoid, with brush border(8, 13).

It is difficult to obtain an accurate final diagnosis of COF, as errors can arise when all characteristics are not carefully considered, leading to therapeutic and prognostic effects1717 Macdonald DS. Maxillofacial fibro-osseous lesions. Clin Radiol. 2015; 70: 25-36.. Some authors consider that the histopathological diagnosis with no clinical and radiographic correlation is only possible if the biopsy sample includes the interface between lesion and healthy adjacent tissue. However, in the absence of clinicoradiographic information, it is very common that the pathologist is unable to present a definitive diagnosis, preferring to assign the biopsy as a benign fibro-osseous lesion1818 Abramovitch K, Rice DD. Benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Dent Clin N Am. 2016; 60: 167-93.. Unfortunately for the clinician, this non-specific diagnosis does not provide much guidance to direct him to appropriate treatment88 Mainville G N, Turgeon DP, Kauzman A. Diagnosis and management of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Oral Dis. 2017; 23(4): 440-50..

CONCLUSION

COF has similarities with other benign fibro-osseous lesions, and its diagnosis is often a challenge for dental surgeons. Therefore, a reasonable correlation of clinical, radiographic and histopathological features is necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis and an appropriate surgical intervention.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Titinchi F, Morkel J. Ossifying fibroma: analysis of treatment methods and recurrence patterns. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016; 74(12): 2409-19.
  • 2
    Costa PJP. Fibroma ossificante central: relato de caso. [course conclusion paper]. Manaus (AM): Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; 2017.
  • 3
    Franco AVM, Ferreira SMS, Oliveira CRR, Diniz AP, Nascimento JDR. Fibroma ossificante central: relato de caso. Rev Eletrônica Acervo Saúde. 2018; 17(193): 1-5.
  • 4
    Bala TK, Soni S, Dayal P, Ghosh I. Cemento-ossifying fibroma of the mandible. Saudi Med J. 2017; 38(5): 541-5.
  • 5
    El-Naggar AK, Chan J, Takata T, Grandis J, Blootweg P. WHO Classification of tumors. Pathology and Genetics of Head and Neck Tumors. 4th ed. Lyon: IARC Press; 2017.
  • 6
    Dominguete MHL, Dominguette AAS, Matos BH, Dominguette PR, León JE, Oliveira LR. Extensive presentation of central ossifying fibroma treated with conservative surgical excision. Case Rep Dent. 2014; 2014: 1-4.
  • 7
    Kharsan V, Madan RS, Rathod P, Balani A, Tiwari S, Sharma S. Large ossifying fibroma of jaw bone: a rare case report. Pan Afr Med J. 2018; 30: 306.
  • 8
    Mainville G N, Turgeon DP, Kauzman A. Diagnosis and management of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Oral Dis. 2017; 23(4): 440-50.
  • 9
    Wagner VP, Carlos R, Romañach MJ, Lopes MA, Speight PM, Vargas PA. Malignant transformation of craniomaxillofacial fibro-osseous lesions: a systematic review. J Oral Pathol Med. 2019; 48: 441-50.
  • 10
    Thackray AC, Sobin LH. International histological classification of tumors n. 7. Genebra: World Health Organization; 1972.
  • 11
    Wright JM, Vered M. Update from the 4th edition of the World Health Organization classification of head and neck tumours: odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumors. Head Neck Pathol. 2017; 11(1): 68-77.
  • 12
    Silveira DTS, Cardoso FO, Silva BJA, Cardoso CAA, Manzi FR. Fibroma ossificante: relato de caso clínico, diagnóstico imaginológico e histopatológico e tratamento feito. Rev Bras Ortop. 2016; 51(1): 100-4.
  • 13
    Junior FAAL, Cunha JLS, Rosa CR, Fonte JBM, Melo MFB, Junior RLCA. Fibroma ossificante central em mandíbula: relato de caso. Interfaces Científicas Saúde e Ambiente. 2017; 5(2): 33-40.
  • 14
    Andrade M, Silva-Sousa YTC, Marques MFT, Pontual MLA, Ramos-Perez FMM, Perez DEC. Ossifying fibroma of the jaws: a clinicopathological case series study. Braz Dent J. 2013; 24(6): 662-6.
  • 15
    Eversole LR, Leider AS, Nelson K. Ossifying fibroma: a clinicopathologic study of sixty-four cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1985; 60: 505-11.
  • 16
    Phattarataratip E, Pholjaroen C, Tiranon P. A clinicopathologic analysis of 207 cases of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Int J Surg Pathol. 2013; 22(4): 326-33.
  • 17
    Macdonald DS. Maxillofacial fibro-osseous lesions. Clin Radiol. 2015; 70: 25-36.
  • 18
    Abramovitch K, Rice DD. Benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws. Dent Clin N Am. 2016; 60: 167-93.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    09 July 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    18 Feb 2020
  • Reviewed
    02 Mar 2020
  • Accepted
    02 Mar 2020
  • Published
    20 May 2021
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