Odontogenic myxoma: a diagnosis to add to the list of facial tumours in infants

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of a midfacial mass in a child includes a great variety of tumours. Odontogenic myxoma is a benign tumour arising from the mesenchymal portion of the odontogenic apparatus that is usually seen in adolescents and adults.

Odontogenic myxoma of the maxilla: A rare case report and review of the literature

“…Panoramic radiograph is usually performed at first, though it is not the best imaging technique available. The radiographic aspects of OM in the literature vary from small unilocular radio-transparent lesions, to large multilocular lesions, possibly displacing the corresponding teeth [ 10 , 14 , 15 ]. The specific diagnosis of OM can be suspected in the presence of fine, angular septa, visible on the panoramic radiograph, and realizing an aspect of a “soap bubble”, a “honeycomb” or “tennis racket strings” [ 6 , 8 , [16] , [17] , [18] ].…”

“…While certain authors find that panoramic radiography and CT imaging are sufficient to evaluate OM [ 22 ], other consider Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) more efficient and superior to CT imaging in the positive diagnosis of OM, especially in the evaluation of soft tissue involvement and in the differential diagnosis between OM and ameloblastoma [ 10 , 14 , 23 ]. OM generally appears as a well-defined, expansive and multilocular mass, lobulated, containing small crevices and septas, characterized by a low signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging, with a variable and homogeneous enhancement after Gadolinium injection [ 10 , 23 ].…”

“…The differential diagnosis includes odontogenic tumors, such as ameloblastoma, odontogenic fibroma, dentigerous cyst, odontogenic keratocyst, and non-odontogenic tumors, such as central giant cell granuloma, ossifying fibroma, haemangioma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma [ 10 , 14 , 19 , 23 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Pediatric Odontogenic Myxoma: A Case Report and a Systematic Review of the Literature

“…1 OM is rare, occurring more commonly in females (M:F, 1.5:1) and in the maxilla in adults. 2-4 Less than 10% of cases occur in children. 2…”

“…1 OM is rare, occurring more commonly in females (M:F, 1.5:1) and in the maxilla in adults. [2][3][4] Less than 10% of cases occur in children. 2 OM is thought to be locally aggressive, with case reports demonstrating tumor infiltration into the orbital floor, nasal cavity, sinus, and cranial base in pediatric patients.…”