Extensive hyperdense zone in the mandible: a case report

Hyperdense zones are considered a generic term to define an area of increased density regardless of its cause. Idiopathic hyperdense zones are referred in literature as enostosis, focal osteosclerosis, periapical osteopetrosis or bone scar and are found as imaging finding during a rutine radiograph. They have greater predilection for long bones, but can also appear in the maxillary bones in certain occasions, often located in the jaw, especially in the molar region, with an informed incidence rate that varies from 2,3 to 9,7% depending on the population in which the study is being applied. In 40% of the cases, in spite of being of idiopathic origin, they seem to be associated with patients with occlusal trauma or can be a result of a predominant development of isolated bone during bone growth. The case of a 36-year-old female patient is described, who presents hyperdensity that differs in form, location and imaging features from the commonly documented in this type of anatomical variations. It was diagnosed as idiopathic osteosclerosis, periodic imaging controls were established. The purpose of this case report is to emphasize the importance of performing an appropriate differential diagnosis among hyperdense lesions at maxillofacial level.

Maxillomandibular giant osteosclerotic lesions

Abstract Giant Osteosclerotic Lesions (GOLs) are a group of rarely reported intraosseous lesions. Their precise diagnosis is important since they can be confused with malignant neoplasms. Objective This retrospective study aimed to record and analyze the clinical and radiographic Giant Osteosclerotic Lesions (GOLs) detected in the maxillomandibular area of patients attending to our institution. Materials and Methods: Informed consent from the patients was obtained and those cases of 2.5 cm or larger lesions with radiopaque or mixed (radiolucid-radiopaque) appearance located in the maxillofacial bones were selected. Assessed parameters were: age, gender, radiographic aspect, shape, borders, size, location and relations to roots. Lesions were classified as radicular, apical, interradicular, interradicular-apical, radicular-apical or located in a previous teeth extraction area. Additionally, several osseous and dental developmental alterations (DDAs) were assessed. Results Seventeen radiopacities in 14 patients were found and were located almost exclusively in mandible and were two types: idiopathic osteosclerosis and condensing osteitis. GOLs were more frequent in females, and in the anterior and premolar zones. 94.2% of GOLs were qualified as idiopathic osteosclerosis and one case was condensing osteitis. All studied cases showed different osseous and dental developmental alterations (DDAs). The most common were: Microdontia, hypodontia, pulp stones, macrodontia and variations in the mental foramina. Conclusions GOLs must be differentiated from other radiopaque benign and malignant tumors. Condensing osteitis, was considered an anomalous osseous response induced by a chronic low-grade inflammatory stimulus. For development of idiopathic osteosclerosis, two possible mechanisms could be related. The first is modification of the normal turnover with excessive osseous deposition. The second mechanism will prevent the normal bone resorption, arresting the osseous breakdown process.

Erdheim-Chester disease: a case report

A 42-year-old man with Erdheim-Chester disease (EC) is presented. This is the first case of this disease reported in Korea. The patient complained of knee pain and plain roentgenogram of the bilateral legs revealed diffusely increased density, coarsened trabecular pattern, and cortical thickening in the diaphysis, and metaphysis as well as epiphysis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the lesions showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and heterogeneously low and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen showed a xanthogranulomatous lesion consisting aggregations of foamy histiocytes and Touton-type giant cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive reaction to anti-S-100 and lysozyme in the cytoplasm of the giant cells.