Fibrous dysplasia: Report of three cases

Abstract

Fibrous dysplasia is a pseudo-neoplastic lesion, etiology unknown, benign and recurrent, in which normal bone is replaced by fibrous tissue and lamellar bone trabeculae. The main differential diagnosis of the monostotic form on head and neck bones is Ossifying Fibroma, which some consider another form of the same entity. The purpose of this study is to make a review of the main clinical, radiological and histopathological findings that contribute to the differential diagnosis. The recurrent behavior of Fibrous Dysplasia is essential to its surgical planning and it was also analyzed in this study. We reported three cases followed at the ENT department, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, evaluated based on patients' symptoms, physical examination, imaging findings and treatment. In all three cases, the diagnosis was confirmed based on histopathological findings. All of them had recurrences after surgical removal, diagnosed between the first and eighth year of follow up. Owing to the Fibrous Dysplasia and Ossifying Fibroma similar clinical courses, the histopathological findings are essential to help differential diagnosis. The long-term follow up of these patients is necessary in order to make early diagnosis of recurrences.