Craniofacial and monostotic variants of fibrous dysplasia affecting the maxillofacial region

Fibrous dysplasia, a benign fibro-osseous lesion, is a skeletal developmental anomaly of the bone forming mesenchyme that manifests as bony expansion or enlargement due to an abnormal osteoblastic and fibrous connective tissue proliferation and defective osteoblastic differentiation and maturation. Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia is a form of fibrous dysplasia affecting the cranial base, vault and the maxillofacial region to varying extents. Either of the jaws may be involved by the monostotic variety of fibrous dysplasia too. Histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen alone is inadequate to make a definitive diagnosis, but rather, correlation with the clinical features, biological behavior, radiographic appearance and intra-operative findings of these lesions is imperative, so that they can be distinguished from other fibro-osseous lesions and an appropriate treatment modality can be instituted.