Incidental Radiographic Finding of Osteoma in the Jaw Area: Clinical Case

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoma is a rare benign bone neoplasm composed of compact or cancellous mature bone, predominantly found in gnathic bones. They occur more often in the mandible than in the maxilla. They usually appear as solitary and asymptomatic lesions, however, they can slowly progress to large lesions and, in later stages, produce visible external deformities. Other associated symptoms are mouth opening limitation, midline deviation and TMJ pain. Objective: This paper aims to report a clinical case of a 38-year-old female patient who, during routine radiographic examination, observed a circumscribed radiopaque lesion and a well-defined radiolucent halo surrounding the apex of a molar in the mandible region. Materials and methods: After radiographic analysis, application of computed tomography, and intraoral examination, some diagnostic hypotheses were raised, such as condensing osteitis, cementoblastoma, odontoma, focal cemento-osseous dysplasia, and osteoma. Diagnosis: Only by performing the histopathological examination was a confirmed diagnosis for osteoma obtained. Conclusion: Total surgical resection of the lesion was the treatment of choice, and the case was kept under observation for six months to confirm the absence of lesion recurrence.