Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols for Peripheral Craniofacial Osteomas.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• Osteomas are benign, slow-growing bone tumors in the craniofacial region.
• Standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols for craniofacial osteomas are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a systematic approach for diagnosing and surgically managing craniofacial osteomas.
• To analyze lesion distribution and gender prevalence in craniofacial osteomas.
• To evaluate the role of genetic testing in identifying potential syndromes like Gardner syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 141 patients with craniofacial osteomas.
• Diagnosis confirmed via clinical examination and 3D computed tomography.
• Surgical excision using direct, endoscopic, or bicoronal approaches.
• Whole exome sequencing for selected patients to assess specific gene mutations.

Main Results:

• 148 osteomas identified, most commonly in the frontal bone (60.1%).
• Females represented 79.1% of the patient cohort.
• No pathogenic variants related to Gardner syndrome were detected.
• No recurrences observed within a 6-month follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Craniofacial osteomas are most prevalent in the frontal bone and predominantly affect females.
• A combined approach of imaging, tailored surgery, and selective genetic testing leads to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
• Favorable postoperative outcomes are achievable with this systematic management strategy.