Cherubism: clinicopathologic features

Abstract

A case of cherubism in 6-year-old boy is reported. He presented with bilateral symmetrical enlargement of the jaw in addition to medially dislocated premature teeth, narrow V-shaped palatal vault, and mild upward turning of the eyes. Radiographs showed multiloculated osteolysis in both the mandible and maxilla. Histology revealed a non-neoplastic fibrous lesion, rich in multinucleated giant cells, consistent with giant-cell reparative granuloma. Since the original description of cherubism, various histologic interpretations have been proposed, particularly that of fibrous dysplasia. However, it should be emphasized that cherubism is a disease histologically indistinguishable from giant-cell reparative granuloma.