Giant Osteoma of the Mandible: Report of a Rare Case with Review of Literature

Lingual osteoma presenting as a solitary painless lesion: Report of a rare case with review of the literature

Lingual osteoma, a rare, benign bone tumor that primarily affects the posterior tongue, can be difficult to diagnose. This study aims to report a case of osteoma affecting the tongue in a 17-year-old female. The patient had a foreign body sensation and a progressively growing lesion for 3 years and underwent clinical examination and diagnostic procedures. A well-defined, smooth-surfaced, white mass was discovered in the posterior third of the tongue. The 1.5 × 1 × 0.4 cm mass was completely excised under local anesthesia and histopathologically confirmed as a benign lingual osteoma. The 2-month post-operative outcome was uneventful. The rarity of lingual osteoma, as well as the fact that it is often asymptomatic, makes diagnosis difficult. The diagnosis entails a proper clinical examination, imaging studies, and histopathological analysis. Surgical intervention, primarily aimed at complete excision while preserving tongue function, remains the primary treatment option. Successful excision entails educating healthcare professionals about this rare benign bony tumor to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.

Diagnostic conundrum in an ambiguous posterior mandibular osseous lesion: Case report and radiological review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Non-odontogenic osseous lesions of the mandible are relatively uncommon entities compared to odontogenic lesions. Although the posterior mandible is not a usual site, it is not rare either for these osseous lesions, making the diagnosis ambiguous, and if misdiagnosed leading to different treatment protocols.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 43-year-old female presented with a hard tissue lesion of the posterior mandible, misdiagnosed as a sialolith of the submandibular salivary gland in two other centers due to overlapping of symptoms, anatomic complexity, and inadequate investigations. The lesion was later diagnosed to be an osteoma of the posterior mandible with added investigations, and surgically excised. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

A variety of hard tissue lesions are known to occur in the posterior mandible like Submandibular sialolith, Osteomas, Calcified Submandibular lymph nodes, Phlebolith, and Tonsillolith. However, due to the region's structural complexity, localization of a hard tissue lesion may not always be forthright, even with radiographs. Moreover, in cases with conflicting symptoms, as was in this case there are more chances of misdiagnosis. The reasons for such diagnostic challenges are deliberated with radiological review of posterior mandibular osseous lesions. Recommendations are also suggested for proper investigations, thereby management of these posterior mandibular osseous lesions.

CONCLUSION

Misdiagnosis of these posterior mandibular lesions may lead to the patient undergoing unnecessary surgical procedures as different lesions require different management. Differential diagnosis and adequate protocol for investigations are required.