Benign Fibro-Osseous Lesions of the Head and Neck

Abstract

Benign fibro-osseous lesions (BFOLs) are a particularly challenging set of diagnoses for the pathologist. This diverse collection of diseases includes fibrous dysplasia, ossifying fibroma and cemento-osseous dysplasia. While all three conditions have similar microscopic presentations, their treatment and prognosis differ, demanding an accurate and definitive diagnosis. A practical and systematic approach considering the patient’s history, demographics, intraoperative presentation, and gross appearance with an emphasis on radiology and histology will be discussed.