A case of extensive maxillary benign cementoblastoma

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present paper is to report a case of benign cementoblastoma (BC) involving mESultiple maxillary teeth and discuss the importance of its diagnosis in clinical oral practice. Background: BC is a rare, benign odontogenic neoplasm of ectomesenchymal origin. This neoplasm has characteristic radiologic and microscopic features, and it is intimately associated with the roots of teeth. Case Report: The intra-oral examination in a 21-year-old white man revealed a palatine growth in the premolar-molar region. Dental panoramic and periapical radiographies showed a mixed radiodense/radiolucent lesion closely associated with the roots of three maxillary teeth. A biopsy was undertaken and confirmed the clinical hypothesis. Summary: In most cases, initial BC is asymptomatic and early diagnosis can be performed by routine radiographic examination. BC was considered as an indolent lesion for several years. Nevertheless, recent studies have demonstrated that some BCs may exhibit aggressive biological behavior and can affect several teeth. Clinical Significance: Because a benign cementoblastoma represents an odontogenic lesion, general practicing professionals must be able to identify the main features of this tumor. This case corroborates some papers that have demonstrated a possible aggressive behavior of BC. Therefore, a brief update concerning the clinical and radiographic features of this unique tumor is also provided. © 2010 Seer Publishing LLC.