Juvenile central ossifying fibroma of the mandible: a case report

Central ossifying fibroma is a rare fibro-osseous neoplasm in young children. It is highly aggressive and has a strong tendency to recur. We describe an 11-year-old girl with juvenile central ossifying fibromas of the mandible that caused obstruction of tooth eruption of the lower left second premolar. Oral examination revealed the presence of the primary lower left second molar and a small bony hard swelling over the left side of the mandibular body. After a computed tomographic scan, an incisional biopsy was performed, and the lesion proved to be a juvenile ossifying fibroma. Although this tumor often recurs early, and many authors suggest radical en bloc resection, we performed a more conservative procedure to avoid damage to the mandibular nerve. There has been no evidence of recurrence 1 year later.