Cherubism: clinicopathologic features

Sinonasal Manifestations of Severe Cherubism: A Case with 11-year Follow-up

Cherubism, a type of fibroosteodysplasia, is a rare hereditary disease that causes variable degrees of facial deformity in children. Hypertrophy of the mandible is the most common symptom, but in severe cases, the disease affects the eyes, teeth, and sinonasal cavity. There have been few reports regarding sinonasal complications and no standard treatment has been established. This paper reports long-term treatment of severe cherubism that invaded the sinonasal cavity treated with consecutive endoscopic sinonasal surgeries.

Multiple versus solitary giant cell lesions of the jaw: Similar or distinct entities?

The majority of giant cell lesions of the jaw present as a solitary focus of disease in bones of the maxillofacial skeleton. Less frequently they occur as multifocal lesions. This raises the clinical dilemma if these should be considered distinct entities and therefore each need a specific therapeutic approach. Solitary giant cell lesions of the jaw present with a great diversity of symptoms. Recent molecular analysis revealed that these are associated with somatic gain-of-function mutations in KRAS, FGFR1 or TRPV4 in a large component of the mononuclear stromal cells which all act on the RAS/MAPK pathway. For multifocal lesions, a small group of neoplastic multifocal giant cell lesions of the jaw remain after ruling out hyperparathyroidism. Strikingly, most of these patients are diagnosed with jaw lesions before the age of 20 years, thus before the completion of dental and jaw development. These multifocal lesions are often accompanied by a diagnosis or strong clinical suspicion of a syndrome. Many of the frequently reported syndromes belong to the so-called RASopathies, with germline or mosaic mutations leading to downstream upregulation of the RAS/MAPK pathway. The other frequently reported syndrome is cherubism, with gain-of-function mutations in the SH3BP2 gene leading through assumed and unknown signaling to an autoinflammatory bone disorder with hyperactive osteoclasts and defective osteoblastogenesis. Based on this extensive literature review, a RAS/MAPK pathway activation is hypothesized in all giant cell lesions of the jaw. The different interaction between and contribution of deregulated signaling in individual cell lineages and crosstalk with other pathways among the different germline- and non-germline-based alterations causing giant cell lesions of the jaw can be explanatory for the characteristic clinical features. As such, this might also aid in the understanding of the age-dependent symptomatology of syndrome associated giant cell lesions of the jaw; hopefully guiding ideal timing when installing treatment strategies in the future.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 With Cherubism-like Phenotype, Multiple Osteolytic Bone Lesions of Lower Extremities, and Alagille-syndrome: Case Report With Literature Survey

BACKGROUND/AIM

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease. The cardinal clinical findings include characteristic skeletal alterations. Difficulties in diagnosis and therapy can arise if an individual has further illnesses.

CASE REPORT

This is a case report of a 16-year-old patient affected by NF1. She also suffered from Alagille syndrome and the consequences of fetal alcohol exposure. The patient's facial phenotype showed findings that could be assigned to one or more of the known diseases. The patient was referred for treating a cherubism-like recurrent central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaw. The patient developed bilateral, multilocular non-ossifying fibromas (NOF) of the long bones of the lower extremity. Treatment of the skeletal lesions consisted of local curettage. While NOF regressed after surgery, the CGCG of the jaw remained largely unchanged. Extensive genetic tests confirmed a previously unknown germline mutation in the JAG1 gene, the germline mutation of the NF1 gene, and the somatic mutation in the NF1 gene in the diffuse plexiform neurofibroma, but not in the CGCG.

CONCLUSION

Assigning facial findings to a defined syndrome is ambiguous in many cases and especially difficult in patients who have multiple diseases that can affect the facial phenotype. Surgical therapy should be adapted to the individual findings.

Cherubism: A Rare Fibro-Osseous Disorder Characterized and Diagnosed by one Stop Imaging with Technetium-99m Methylene Diphosphonate Bone Scintigraphy Integrated with Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography

Cherubism, a rare hereditary fibro-osseous lesion characterized by painless expansion of jaws, starts early in life manifesting itself fully in the second decade of life and is almost regressed in the third decade. Here, we report a sporadic case of Cherubism with clinico-radiological and scintigraphic presentation of its classical features for its disease rarity and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography findings with review the literature.

Molecular and cellular characterizations of human cherubism: disease aggressiveness depends on osteoclast differentiation

Background

Cherubism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of the jaws caused by mutation of the SH3BP2 gene. The bone is replaced by a fibrous granuloma containing multinucleated giant cells. Cells of the cherubism granuloma have never been systematically analyzed. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize the cells in human cherubism granulomas, to determine the osteoclastic characteristics of the multinucleated giant cells and to investigate the potential role of TNF-α in human cherubism.

Results

Seven granulomas were analyzed in pathology, molecular biology and immunohistochemistry. Granulomas were composed mainly of macrophages or osteoclasts within a fibroblastic tissue, with few lymphoid cells. Myeloid differentiation and nuclear NFATc1 localization were both associated with disease aggressiveness. OPG and RANKL immunohistochemical expression was unexpected in our specimens. Five granuloma cells were cultured in standard and osteoclastogenic media. In culture, cherubism cells were able to differentiate into active osteoclasts, in both osteoclastogenic and standard media. IL-6 was the major cytokine present in the culture supernatants.

Conclusion

Multinucleated giant cells from cherubism granulomas are CD68 positive cells, which differentiate into macrophages in non-aggressive cherubism and into osteoclasts in aggressive cherubism, stimulated by the NFATc1 pathway. This latter differentiation appears to involve a disturbed RANK-L/RANK/OPG pathway and be less TNF-α dependent than the cherubism mouse model.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13023-018-0907-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Central giant cells lesion: Report of a conservative management

Central giant cells lesion (CGCL) is defined as a benign intraosseous destructive pathology. It is classified as aggressive or nonaggressive, depending on their clinical, imaginologic, and histological behavior. The behavior, location, and extension of the lesion added to the patient's age will determine the choice of the treatment, either surgical or clinical. Thereby, the aim of this work is to review the literature related to the CGCL, as well as to present a clinical case report of a 22-year-old female patient, affected with an injury on the left side of her jaw. After the diagnosis, it was decided to carry out a conservative treatment with intralesional injections of triamcinolone (10 mg/ml). The injections were performed once a week for 6 weeks. The progress of the patient was satisfactory, and after 4 years, it has been observed through imaging and clinical bone formation examinations with complete remission of the injury and no signs of recurrence.

Nonfamilial cherubism: A case report and review of literature

Cherubism is a rare hereditary developmental condition of the jaws and generally inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. It is also known as familial fibrous dysplasia of the jaws, familial multilocular cystic disease and hereditary fibrous dysplasia of the jaws. The gene for cherubism is mapped to chromosome 4p16.3 may lead to pathologic activation of osteoclasts and disruption of jaw morphogenesis. The lesion usually appears between 2 and 5 years shows a predilection for the mandible and causes a bilateral swelling giving rise to a cherubic chubby appearance. The eosinophilic cuffing of blood vessels appears to be specific for cherubism. The diagnosis is based on clinical, radiographic and histopathologic findings. The purpose of this article is to present a rare case of nonfamilial cherubism as there are very few cases reported and to review the literature with its cone beam computed tomography findings.

Onlay bone augmentation and bilateral open sinus lifting with simultaneous implant placement in a cherubic patient

A 20-year-old edentulous woman, who was previously treated with the shave of the inferior border of the mandible and malar prominent region for aesthetic facial contouring, was selected for full mouth rehabilitation of the maxillomandibular region. The patient was treated with bilateral open sinus lifting through a lateral approach in the posterior of the maxilla and an onlay bone graft with lateral ramus as a donor site in the mandible anterior. Eight implants in the maxilla and 7 in the mandible were inserted, and implant-supported prostheses were fabricated. The 18-month follow-up showed good bone condition that suggests graft interventions and implant treatment as a good treatment modality for patients with cherubism.

A possible case of cherubism in a 17th-century Korean mummy

Cherubism is a benign fibro-osseous disease of childhood limited specifically to the maxilla and mandible. The progressive replacement of the jaw bones with expansile multilocular cystic lesions causes eventual prominence of the lower face, and hence the classic “cherubic” phenotype reflecting variable extents of jaw hypertrophy. Histologically, this condition has been characterized as replacement of the normal bone matrix with multicystic pockets of fibrous stroma and osteoclastic giant cells. Because of radiographic features common to both, primarily the presence of multiloculated lucencies with heterogeneous “ground-glass” sclerosis on CT imaging, cherubism was long mistaken for a craniofacial subtype of fibrous dysplasia. In 1999, however, the distinct genetic basis for cherubism was mapped to chromosome 4p16.3 and the SH-3 binding protein SH3BP2. But while there are already three suspected cases of fibrous dysplasia amongst archaeological populations, no definitive cases of cherubism have yet been reported in historical populations. In the current study we describe micro- and macro-structural changes in the face of a 17^th century Joseon Dynasty Korean mummy which may coincide with the clinic-pathologic and radiologic features of cherubism.

Computed tomography findings of an unusual maxillary sinus mass: brown tumor due to tertiary hyperparathyroidism

Brown tumor is a non-neoplastic bone lesion that develops secondary to hyperparathyroidism and it is very rare in the maxillofacial region. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who presented with pain and a swelling in the left cheek. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an expansile and radioluscent lesion in the left maxillary sinus. Incisional biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis was Brown tumor. Brown tumor must be considered in the differential diagnosis of expansile lesions of maxillary sinus.

SH3BP2-encoding exons involved in cherubism are not associated with central giant cell granuloma

Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) is a benign lesion with unpredictable biological behaviour ranging from a slow-growing asymptomatic swelling to an aggressive lesion associated with pain, bone and root resorption and also tooth displacement. The aetiology of the disease is unclear with controversies in the literature on whether it is mainly of reactional, inflammatory, infectious, neoplasic or genetic origin. To test the hypothesis that mutations in the SH3BP2 gene, as the principal cause of cherubism, are also responsible for, or at least associated with, giant cell lesions, 30 patients with CGCG were recruited for this study and subjected to analysis of germ line and/or somatic alterations. In the blood samples of nine patients, one codon alteration in exon 4 was found, but this alteration did not lead to changes at the amino acid level. In conclusion, if a primary genetic defect is the cause for CGCG it is either located in SH3BP2 gene exons not yet related to cherubism or in a different gene.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia: Kartagener syndrome with central giant cell granuloma. A case report

This paper describes a clinical case of both giant cell granuloma and Kartagener syndrome in a 15-year-old male patient, with emphasis on the radiographic aspects of this extremely unusual pathology. To our knowledge, the presence of these 2 rare clinical conditions in the same patient has not been previously reported.

Central giant cell granuloma of the jaws: clinical and radiological evaluation of 22 cases

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to investigate the clinical and radiological characteristics of central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) of the jaws.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of a 20-year database was performed regarding both clinical and radiological features of 22 patients affected with CGCGs of the jaws.

RESULTS

Fourteen women and 8 men were included with the age range of 7-81 years (mean 31.7 years). Among the 22 lesions, 16 were located in the mandible and 6 in the maxilla. Painless swelling was the most common clinical feature in 18 of all cases. Limited mouth opening was noted in 2 patients where the lesions involved the condyle. Radiographically, 13 lesions were homogeneously osteolytic and 9 lesions were trabeculated. Fifteen lesions were unilocular and 14 lesions presented with well-defined but not sclerotic margins. CT images in 5 patients clearly showed the trabeculation within the lesions. The follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 11 years with a mean period of 5 years. Three out of 9 aggressive and 1 out of 13 nonaggressive lesions developed recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of CGCGs of the jaws depends on both correct interpretation of clinical, radiographic and pathological data. Differentiation between aggressive and nonaggressive CGCGs should be considered to improve individual treatment planning.

Imaging of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia

Fibrous dysplasia is a relatively common disorder of bone. It may affect the bones of the face and skull and, in so doing, produce a wide variety of clinical presentations. Plain film assessment of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia may be difficult because of varying appearances and complex, overlapping structures. The MRI appearances of fibrous dysplasia are often non-specific and may be confusing. Findings on CT are also variable, but more commonly lead to a specific diagnosis. This is because of the characteristic ground-glass appearance of woven bone, seen on CT in most if not all cases of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia.

Causes of facial swelling in pediatric patients: correlation of clinical and radiologic findings

Facial swelling is a common clinical problem in pediatric patients. The causes of swelling are diverse, and knowledge of the typical clinical and imaging manifestations and the most common sites of occurrence of these conditions is needed to formulate a differential diagnosis. The general clinical manifestations may be classified into the following four groups: (a) acute swelling with inflammation, (b) nonprogressive swelling, (c) slowly progressive swelling, and (d) rapidly progressive swelling. Conditions that may account for acute swelling accompanied by inflammation include lymphadenitis, sinusitis, odontogenic infection, and abscess. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the modality of choice for detection of abscesses requiring surgical drainage. Nonprogressive midfacial swelling is suggestive of a congenital anomaly (eg, a cephalocele, nasal glioma, or nasal dermoid or epidermoid cyst). Slowly progressive swelling may indicate the presence of a neurofibroma, hemangioma, lymphangioma, vascular malformation, or pseudocyst, or of fibrous dysplasia. The differential diagnosis for rapidly progressive facial swelling in association with cranial nerve deficits should include rhabdomyosarcoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, Ewing sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, and metastatic neuroblastoma.

Central giant cell granuloma of the jaws: A clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic study of 26 cases

The clinical behavior of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws is variable and difficult to predict. Clinical data and follow-up information of 26 patients with CGCG were analyzed. Histologic features were correlated with the clinical course of the disease. In 16 patients the CGCGs were asymptomatic; 10 lesions presented with aggressive growth, pain, massive swelling, root resorption, cortical perforation, and/or recurrence. These patients were younger and the lesions were larger than in the nonaggressive group. The histomorphometric analysis proved a significant increase in large giant cells, fractional surface area, and mitotic activity in aggressive CGCG lesions. Immunohistologic investigation (Ki-67 and p53 stain) revealed no significant differences. After surgical treatment, 3 patients with aggressive lesions developed a recurrence. The data show that clinical and histomorphometric features may be reliable indicators for the differentiation between aggressive and nonaggressive CGCG. This should be accounted for to improve the individual planning of the treatment and follow-up.

Cherubism associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, and multiple osteolytic lesions of both femurs: a previously undescribed association of findings

We present a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1, with the clinical, radiological and histological features of cherubism mandibular lesions, and multiple osteolytic, geographic lesions in both femurs, consistent with multiple non-ossifying fibromas. We have been unable to find a similar case in the world literature. We discuss our findings in relationship with a number of syndromes that present clinical, radiological or pathological similarities.

Infantile fibrous dysplasia of the mandible

Fibrous dysplasia of the craniofacial skeleton is an uncommon benign neoplasm. Its appearance in infancy (<1 year) is extremely rare. The authors report a case of mandibular fibrous dysplasia presenting in a patient 12 weeks of age as a painless, primarily left-sided, enlarging neoplasm of bone. Surgical contouring was successfully performed when the patient was 9 months of age. The authors anticipate recurrence, but at 6 months of follow-up no new growth has been observed.

Cherubism: Review of four affected members in a Kuwaiti family

Cherubism is a rare autosomal dominant fibro-osseous disorder of childhood, mostly limited to the maxilla and mandible. Extra-cranial skeletal involvement is rare. Post-pubertal involution of the process and jaw remodeling occurs in adulthood. The aim of this case report is to present four cherubs, a father and his three daughters, in whom the diagnosis was made based on history, physical examination, laboratory tests and typical radiological features. The imaging characteristics are discussed and the published literature is reviewed.

Imaging characteristics of cherubism

OBJECTIVE

We sought to describe the radiographic and imaging features of cherubism.

CONCLUSION

Cherubism is a rare osseous disorder of children and adolescents. Although the radiologic characteristics of cherubism are not pathognomonic, the diagnosis is strongly suggested by bilateral relatively symmetric jaw involvement that is limited to the maxilla and mandible. Imaging typically shows expansile remodeling of the involved bones, thinning of the cortexes, and multilocular radiolucencies with a coarse trabecular pattern.

A missense mutation in the SH3BP2 gene on chromosome 4p16.3 found in a case of nonfamilial cherubism

OBJECTIVE

Cherubism is a rare hereditary multilocular cystic disease of the jaws, characterized by its typical appearance. Although nonfamilial cases have been reported, it is difficult to distinguish nonfamilial cherubism from central giant cell granuloma. Recent studies have revealed the point mutations in the SH3BP2 gene on chromosome 4p16.3 in cherubism families. In this article, the SH3BP2 gene in nonfamilial cherubism was examined.

PATIENT

A 21-year-old Japanese woman with nonfamilial cherubism.

INTERVENTIONS

Genomic DNA was purified from a blood sample obtained from the patient and used for direct sequencing. In addition, a sample of the lesion, resected during surgery, was used for histologic and immunohistochemical purposes.

RESULTS

Genomic DNA sequencing found a Pro418Arg mutation in the SH3BP2 gene of the patient. In a histochemical analysis, the multinucleated giant cells proved to be strongly positive for PGM-1, KP-1, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and faintly positive for osteopontin.

CONCLUSIONS

The missense mutation Pro418Arg was identified in the SH3BP2 gene from a nonfamilial case of cherubism. DNA diagnosis may play a significant role in the identification of cherubism.

Clinical and radiological evaluation of cherubism: a sporadic case report and review of the literature

Many cases have been published on cherubism since Jones described it first time in three children of the same family [Am. J. Cancer 17 (1933) 946]. Cherubism is an autosomal-dominant disorder in which the normal bone is replaced by cellular fibrous tissue and immature bone. Extracranial skeletal involvement is rarely seen in hereditary and non-hereditary forms of the disorder. The mandible is the most severely affected craniofacial component, in which uncontrolled growth of the malady deteriorates the aesthetic balance of the face. Bilateral swelling of the cheeks, mandibular enlargement and maxillary spongious hypertrophy cause orbital manifestations and tendency of eyes looking up to the sky. Thus, the pathognomic clinical feature resembles the appearance of "raised to heaven" Renaissance cherubs. The sporadic case concerns a child affected by cherubism. Radiographic and clinical data of the patient are presented and brief review of the literature is included.

Lesions of the maxilla

The maxilla may be involved by a wide range of pathologic conditions. Lesions originating in the maxilla may involve the adjacent orbit, oral cavity, or retroantral spaces. Recognition of this relationship plays an important role in diagnosis, prognosis, and presurgical planning.

Cherubism: clinical evidence and therapy

Cherubism is a hereditary childhood disease of autosomal dominant inheritance that is more common in the male sex. Some cases have also revealed a mutation of the gene FGF-RIII (fibroblast growth factor receptor III). The clinical picture of cherubism is characterized by painless symmetrical swelling of the mandible and polycystic destruction of the mandibular bone structure. Complications include delayed dentition, dental root resorption, malalignment of teeth, and impacted teeth. The disease progression comes to a halt of its own accord at the end of puberty. Spontaneous recoveries have been observed. Histologically, multinuclear giant cells with osteoclastic activity, which correspond to a giant cell granuloma, are found in fibrous stroma. It is generally agreed that decisions about surgical intervention should be considered carefully. A case report describes the course of the disease and therapy of a female patient with a periorbital manifestation of cherubism. The latero-orbital enlargement of the intraorbital and latero-orbital region of the zygomatic bone resulted in displacement of the orbital contents with a motility disorder of the eyes. The motility disorder was eliminated by reduction of the diseased hard tissue as well as by carrying out a modeling orbitotomy and by reconstructing an anatomically correct localized and irregular bilateral osseous structure of the zygomatic bone in the intraorbital and latero-orbital region.

Differential diagnosis and treatment of autosomal dominant osteosclerosis of the mandible

A 20-year-old patient who presented with concerns about her large mandible was found to have a generalized mild cortical sclerosis. She was treated successfully with staged orthognathic surgery, despite the dense sclerosis of the jaws.