Teardrop-shaped radiolucency of the mandible

Abstract

An 18-year-old man in good overall health was seen by his general dentist with an expansile, radiolucent lesion of the right posterior mandible. The patient stated that he noticed a right-sided facial swelling, which he described as “growing rapidly,” over the past week (although the exact duration of the lesion was unknown). He was unaware of any facial asymmetry or fullness before the past week, and he denied any associated pain or discomfort. Intraorally, the mandibular right gingiva showed buccal and lingual cortical expansion in the area of the first and second premolars (teeth nos. 28 and 29). Dr. Lee is a resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Chen is a resident, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Furmanek is a resident, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Eisig is the chair, Section of Hospital Dentistry; director, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; and the chief, Hospital Dental Service, New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Peters is an assistant professor, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th St, PH15-1562W, New York, NY 10032.