Ossifying fibroma of the maxillary sinus at the Kara (Togo) Teaching Hospital

Ossifying fibroma of the jaw is a benign tumorous disease, somewhat rare and aggressive. It frequently targets the mandible, but seldom the maxillary.

The present study reports the first case of left maxillary sinus fibroma treated at the Kara Teaching Hospital in North Togo. It occurred in a 29-year-old patient who experienced slow-growing tumefaction of the left maxillary sinus, resulting in deformation of the left side of the face in the maxillary region and ipsilateral nasal obstruction. Orthopantomography showed a displacement of teeth 21, 22, and 23 with an abnormal degree of opacity at the dental roots. The CT scan of the nose and sinuses revealed a tumorous lesion of expanding bony density increasing in volume at the outer wall of the left maxillary sinus, of regular shape that contained microscopic calcifications, extending into the ipsilateral orbital floor and pushing the surrounding soft tissues forward without invading them. The histopathological examination of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of ossifying fibroma.

Ossifying fibroma or fibrous osteoma is a rare and benign lesion developing insidiously with a polymorphous aspect. Of unknown etiology, most frequently located in the mandible, it is differentiated from other types of fibroma in its clinical, radiological, and histological aspects. However, only examination of the gross specimen can provide the final diagnosis. Treatment requires surgery.

Surgical treatment entailed the complete macroscopic enucleoresection. Recovery has been favorable at 2 years of follow-up.