Computed tomography evaluation of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia in an African population

Abstract

AbstractAim: Fibrous dysplasia is a benign fibro‐osseous tumour of bones commonly involving the craniofacial region. Computed tomography (CT) imaging study of the disease is useful for evaluation and treatment planning. However, few studies have evaluated patient series in an African setting.Material and methods: A total of 14 patients with complete medical records and CT images were included in this study. All patients were non‐syndromic fibrous dysplasia involving only the craniofacial region. None had skin pigmentation or other evidence of endocrine problems. Data analysis was essentially on clinical and CT appearances of the lesions.Results: Facial swelling was the chief complaint in 79% of patients. Two patients were incidentally discovered after cranial CT scanning for head injury and stroke. The average number of bones involved was 5.4 per patient. Involvement of more than one craniofacial bone occurred in 78% of patients. The maxilla was involved in eight patients (57.14%), the ethmoidal, orbital and frontal bones were the most commonly jointly involved bones (64.3%). CT images appeared sclerotic or homogenous in 36%, ground glass or heterogeneous in 71% and cystic in 7%.Conclusion: CT features of craniofacial dysplasia in patients of African descent are similar to that seen in other racial groups. Our findings further suggest that craniofacial fibrous dysplasia can hardly be described as monostotic.