Osteoma is a slow growing benign tumor consisting of well differentiated compact or cancellous bone that increases in size by continuous growth. It can be of a central, peripheral, or extraskeletal type. The peripheral type arises from the periosteum and is rarely seen in mandible. Although completely curable with adequate surgical treatment, osteomas precede the clinical radiographic evidence of colonic polyposis/Gardner's syndrome. Therefore they may be sensitive markers for the disease. Recurrence of peripheral osteoma after surgical excision is extremely rare. However it is appropriate to provide both clinical and radiographic follow up after surgical excision of peripheral osteoma. This article describes the case of a 45 year old male who presented with painless swelling of the right body of mandible and resultant cosmetic facial disfigurement and functional impairment.

Background:The purpose of the present study was to analyze the outcome result of surgical and nonsurgical treatment of mandibular condyle fractures in patients treated at the Department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital. Methods: A retrospective study of 27 patients treated for mandibular condyle fractures at Department of Oral and maxillofacial surgery, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital between 2008-2010 was performed. Sixteen patients were treated nonsurgically and 11 patients by surgical treatment. Outcome results on clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated during the follow up period. Results: In nonsurgical group, 9 patients (56%) had loss of vertical ramus height and 6 patients (37.5%) had reduced mouth opening of below 35 mm. In open reduction group temporary facial nerve weakness was seen in 2 patients (18%) and one patient developed post operative infection. None of the patients in both groups had malocclusion. Conclusions: The study concludes that nonsurgical treatment gives satisfactory clinical results, though the condyle is not anatomically normal in radiographs, whereas surgical treatment provided more accurate results clinically as well as radiographically.

BACKGROUNDThe mandible is the second most commonly fractured part of the maxillofacial region after nasal bones. The incidence, etiology and pattern of mandibular fractures vary considerably among the different study population, there is a need to evaluate aspects of mandibular trauma in Pondicherry. This study was undertaken to evaluate the results of mandibular fractures treated in a population of Pondicherry.

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Schwannomas are relatively rare benign neoplasms of neurogenic origin from the neural sheath of peripheral nerves occurring more commonly in the head and neck. Mandibular bone is the commonest site of occurrence of these nerve lesions. Radiographically, intraosseous schwannoma of mandible is very difficult to differentiate from other bony pathologies such as neurofibroma, ameloblastoma, fibrous dysplasia, myxoma, central giant cell lesion, or periapical lesion, so it should be included in the differential diagnosis of lower jaw swelling. Schwannoma as a pathologic entity was first reported in 1910 by Verocay. Schwannoma (also known as neurinoma, neurolemmoma, neurilemmoma, perineural fibroblastoma, and peripheral nerve sheath tumour) is a rare, slowgrowing, benign neurogenic neoplasm that originated from Schwann cells. Schwann cells cover myelinated sheath of nerve fibres.1 These intraosseous schwannomas account for not more than 1 % of the central neoplasms. More than one third of all schwannomas are found in the head and neck region. 2 Most of these originate from the lower cranial nerve and sympathetic nervous system. Schwannomas from the upper cranial nerves such as trigeminal nerve and its branches are less common. Other commonly reported sites include the vertebra, clavicle, ribs, sacrum, humerus, ulna radius, etc. This painless slow-growing neoplasm may develop at any age.