Radiographic characteristics of central ossifying fibroma

Abstract

Sixty-four instances of histologically documented ossifying and/or cementifying fibromas were evaluated. Adequate radiographs were available in 43 of the cases. Most of these benign fibro-osseous neoplasms occurred in women, with a predilection for the third and fourth decades. Six distinct radiographic patterns could be identified: (1) radiolucent, superimposed over teeth or residing in edentulous regions (28%); (2) radiolucent with opaque foci, lying in edentulous areas or superimposed over teeth (42%); (3) radiolucent, interposed between contiguous teeth (5%); (4) radiolucent with opaque foci, interposed between contiguous teeth (9%); (5) multilocular expansile (7%); and (6) aggressively expansile with opacification (9%). All lesions exhibited well-defined margins. Root resorption was a feature in 11% of the sample, and root divergence occurred in 17% of the cases.