title: Heterotopic ossification in the anterior maxilla: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: A 13-year-old boy had complained of an asymptomatic swelling in the anterior maxilla for approximately 4 years. The patient reported no local trauma. The intra-oral examination revealed an exophytic lesion in the incisive papilla between the maxillary central and lateral incisor teeth. The radiographies detected no significant findings. Histopathologically, the lesion showed a dense fibrous tissue above the overlying mucosa. Bone ossification lay beneath a partially hypertrophic cartilage showing occasionally pleomorphic chondrocytes. Because of its microscopic aspects, heterotopic ossification may be mistaken for chondrosarcoma or other conditions involving periosteum, such as parosteal osteosarcoma. A case of heterotopic ossification in the anterior maxilla is presented, and clinicopathologic similarities with other osteochondromatous lesions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, Brazil. vencio56@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Eneida F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Vencio
authors.forename: Rita C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zancope
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010159:Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography