Report of Cases
Case 2
A 20-year old man presented for evaluation of an asymptomatic mass of the left posterior portion of the mandible. The patient denied pain or inability to masticate but desired removal of the mass for esthetic reasons. There was no previous facial trauma or contributory medical history. He had noticed the nodular mass for two years, and it had gradually increased in size. Physical examination showed a hard, immobile mass with approximately 1.5 cm diameter on the inferior border of the left mandible. The overlying skin was normal in color and showed no adhesion to the mass (Figure 5).
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| Figure 5. An immobile mass on theinferior border of the left mandible |
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Figure 6. A panoramic radiograph showing the radiopaque mass on the left inferior border of the mandible. |
Radiographs showed a round radiopaque mass associated with the left mandible body (Figure 6). All laboratory data were within normal limits. A working diagnosis of osteoma was made and the patient was scheduled for surgery.
Under general nasotracheal anesthesia, the bony mass was approached extraorally (Figure 7).
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| Figure 7. Surgical removal of the bony mass. | Figure 8. A photomicrograph of the bony mass. |
After exposure, the mass was removed from the left inferior surface of the mandible body, just anterior to the angle by cutting across the base with the help of a bur and bone chisel. The specimen was smooth, stony hard bone tissue. The cortical plate of the mandible was then shaped and smoothed. Microscopic examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of peripheral osteoma (Figure 8). Postoperative recovery was uneventful. The facial asymmetry was completely restored.
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| Page 4 of 7 | |
| Citation Number: Vol. 4, No. 3, Page 101 |
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