Evaluation and histological maturation characteristics of fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma: a case series

Abstract

Background: Fibrous dysplasia (FD) and ossifying fibroma (OF) are benign fibro-osseous lesions (FOLS) that are generally considered to be separate entities distinguishable by histologic and radiographic features. The histological maturation of these lesions involves an initial fibrous state, an intermediate mixed and a final mineralised stage. Objective: To correlate the mineralisation of OF and FD with the duration of the lesion. Design: A retrospective histopathological analysis of archival material including sixteen cases documented over a three-year period was performed to distinguish FD from OF. Setting: The relevant data of FOLs diagnosed as OF and FD were retrieved from the archival records of the Departments of Oral Surgery/Oral Pathology and Histopathology/Morbid Anatomy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. Results: Remarkably, in this series, none of the FD and OF lesions occurred in patients aged below 10 or over 50 years. The histopathological comparison of the various nonmineralised components in both the lesions in relation to lesion age-maturity was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The histopathological ratio of the mineralised to non-mineralised components may not be directly indicative of the maturity of both OF and FD.