title: Osteoblastoma of the mandible: clinicopathologic study of four cases and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoblastoma is a benign bone tumor accounting for 1% of all bone tumors; it commonly involves the spine and the sacrum of young individuals, with less than 5% being localized to the posterior mandible. In view of its rarity in the maxilla and mandible, osteoblastoma is rarely diagnosed as such in the absence of interdisciplinary cooperation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of four benign osteoblastomas was performed based on a review of the clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumors involved the posterior mandible of young patients (age range, 10-21 years; two male and two female patients) and appeared as painful bone expansions. Radiologically, they were poorly defined, radiolucent/radiopaque lesions containing calcifications and not showing sclerotic borders or periosteal reactions. Histologically, they were composed of osteoid and woven bone surrounded by plump osteoblast-like cells with interposed fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and red blood cells. All patients were disease free after prolonged follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoblastomas may be distinguished from other bone tumors, fibro-osseous lesions, and odontogenic neoplasms on the basis of integrated clinical, radiologic, and histologic features and usually manifest an indolent clinical course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Sciences and Surgery, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capodiferro
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maiorano
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lacaita
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Favia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018215:Osteoblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed