A case of ossifying fibromyxoid tumor in the maxillary molars

Abstract

Ossifying fibromyxoid tumor (OFMT) is a tumor of borderline malignant potential that usually arises in the subcutaneous tissue of extremities, trunk, head and neck and is rarely found in the field of dentistry. This tumor was reported by Enzinger et al in 1989, and Schwann cells and cartilage cells have been reported to play important roles in its development, but this remains to be clarified. We report a case of OFMT that arose in the maxillary molars. The patient was a 44-year-old woman. She presented to our department on noticing swelling of the right maxillary molar gingiva. Radiography showed a slightly unclear bone resorption image and increased impermeability in the right maxillary molar sinus. The results of biopsy led to a diagnosis of OFMT and maxillary sinus aspergillosis. Tumor excision curettage and light maxillary sinus radical therapy was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The final histopathological diagnosis was OFMT.It is said that OFMT has a recurrence rate of about 30%, and cases showing lung metastasis in the absence of histologic heteromorphism have been reported. Long-term follow-up is therefore essential. We report a case of OFMT that arose in the maxillary molar region.