Osteomas in pediatric oral surgery practice

Aim: To present the findings of our own research regarding the frequency, clinical and morphological characteristics, and treatment strategies for osteomas of the maxillofacial region in children.

Materials and Methods: The study is based on the analysis of outpatient records and inpatient medical histories of 17 children who underwent examination and treatment for osteomas over a 10-year period. To establish a preliminary diagnosis, general clinical and additional diagnostic methods were used, including radiography and computed tomography. The microscopic structure of the postoperative material was examined using histological slides.

Results: It was established that among the 17 patients, there were 10 boys (58.8%) and 7 girls (41.2%), and the highest number of diagnosed cases were observed in the older age group (12 patients (70.6%)). The course of the disease was predominantly asymptomatic; in some cases, complaints were limited to the presence of painless hard protrusions on the vestibular surface of the mandible, which, even when small in size, caused some facial asymmetry. Radiological diagnostic methods enabled the confirmation of the diagnosis. The microscopic structure of the postoperative material fully corresponded to the morphological features of osteomas described in adult patients. The treatment strategy was determined based on the patient's complaints and the clinical symptoms in each individual case.

Conclusions: 1. Osteomas of the maxillofacial region in children are most commonly observed in the older school-age group, with the most frequent localization being the body of the mandible and the area of the paranasal sinuses. Inflammatory processes and trauma against a background of hereditary predisposition are among the provoking factors for their development. 2. The clinical presentation and morphological structure of osteomas in children do not significantly differ from those in adults. The generally accepted treatment approach, namely, dynamic monitoring of small-sized tumors and complete surgical removal in cases of disease progression or the development of deformities is fully justified. 3. Not with standing the advancements in scientific and technological progress and improved diagnostic capabilities, the issues of the etiology, pathogenesis and nosological classification of osteoid osteomas remain debatable and require further in-depth investigation.