Cherubism and the osteoclastoma

[Clinical and molecular genetic observations on families with cherubism over three generations]

BACKGROUND

Cherubism is a rare fibro-osseous disorder that almost exclusively affects the maxilla and mandible.

CASE REPORT

We report on three affected males in three generations in family A, and ten affected patients in family B. The youngest affected relative in family A also had craniosynostosis. His father and grandfather had cherubism and clubbed fingers.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Cherubism was mapped to region 4p16.3. Because of the associated craniosynostosis, we excluded the FGFR3 gene as a candidate gene for cherubism. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant with variable expression. The penetrance is 100% in males and 50-70% in females. We found incomplete penetrance in males, which does not conform with all publications.

Vascular transformation in cherubism

Cherubism is a well-known disease entity that was first described by Jones in 1933. A case is presented in which the usual course of the lesion changed dramatically during treatment. The lesion demonstrated unilateral growth with a vascular proliferation after surgical recontouring. Vascular transformation and surgical activation of cherubism, as well as treatment considerations, are discussed.

Cherubism: a report on three cases

Three cases of cherubism not previously recorded in the literature are described. They are three members of a Greek Cypriot family; the mother aged 49 years had residual mandibular deformity; the first daughter aged 17 years had facial swelling and anterior rib lesions; the second daughter aged 14 years presented with a unilateral giant-cell granuloma in the mandible.