Desmoplastic fibroma of the jaw bones

A review of the literature has disclosed 15 cases of desmoplastic fibroma in the jaws including the present case. Fourteen out of 15 cases have affected the mandible with a female: male ratio of one to two. Ten of the reported cases were found in the first and second decades of life. Although histologically benign, the tumor usually shows locally aggressive behavior and may recur when treated conservatively. The difficulties in clinical and histological diagnosis are stressed. The paucity of reported cases prevents substantiation of guidelines for therapy.