Osteoblastoma of the maxilla and mandible: a report of 24 cases, review of the literature, and discussion of its relationship to osteoid osteoma of the jaws

Osteoblastoma is a benign neoplasm of bone characterized by a proliferation of osteoblasts forming bone trabeculae set in a vascularized fibrous connective tissue stroma. We report 24 examples of this neoplasm arising in the maxilla and mandible and compare the clinical and radiographic characteristics of this neoplasm to 53 previously reported examples of osteoblastoma and osteoid osteoma in the jaws. Our results reveal more females reported in the new examples of osteoblastoma than in the previously reported examples of osteoblastoma and osteoid osteoma. This raises the overall female percentage from 47.2% to 58.4%. In addition, significantly fewer patients reported pain, tenderness, and discomfort associated with their neoplasms than in previously reported cases. When all cases are combined, a predominant trend is observed whereby osteoblastoma occurs predominantly on the left side of the posterior mandible and is associated with pain, tenderness, and discomfort. We also provide a rationale for use of the term “osteoblastoma” for any benign osteoblastic neoplasm arising in the jaws.