Occurrence of pathological conditions of the jaw bone in Jamaica

Objectives: Histopathologically confirmed jaw bone tumours in Jamaica were studied retrospectively in order to enable comparison with what has been previously documented by other authors throughout the world. No such study has been previously carried out in the English-speaking Caribbean. Materials and Methods: The dockets (case files) of patients who had tumours and pathological conditions affecting the jaw bone in Jamaica between 1980 and April 1995 were retrieved from the record department of both the Kingston Public and Cornwall Regional Hospitals in Jamaica. Only cases with histopathological confirmation were studied except for oral tori. A total of 229 jaw bone tumours were recorded and information such as age, sex, site of lesion, clinical behaviour and radiographic appearance was documented. Our results were compared with the findings of other authors. Results: A total of 229 jaw bone tumours were analysed with special emphasis on radiology. Jaw bone tumours of odontogenic origin accounted for 53.3 percent of all jaw bone tumours in Jamaica. Of these 70 (57 percent) were odontogenic tumours and 42 (34 percent) were odontogenic cyst. Of the 32 cases of fibro-osseous lesions, 15 (47 percent) were fibrous dysplasia and surprisingly three cases (9.4 percent) were gigantiform cementoma. No case of cementifying fibroma was recorded. Conclusions: Some aspects of the pathological conditions of the Jaw bone differs from what has been previously documented by other authors from other parts of the world.(AU)

Monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the cranio-facial bones

The incidence, pathology, diagnosis and surgery of cranio-facial fibrous dysplasia at General Hospital, Port-of-Spain are presented. The majority of patients were of African origin. One patient turned out to have chondrosarcoma, on histological re-examination and rapid recurrence. The aetiology is not definitely known but histology points to possible mesenchymal or osteoblast aberration. (AU)

Osteomyelitis and fibrous dysplasia of the jaw in the negro (abstract only)

During the last three years six cases of Sclerosing Osteomyelitis of the jaws came under observation. They showed clinically and rontgenologically a uniform picture of sclerotic areas in the mandible and sequester formation. The cases described in the literature and all our cases are negroes, women and fortyfive (45) years old and older. No general disease as cause could be found - sickle cell anaemia was excluded. The histo-pathological survey by John Arneaud points out similarities with Fibrous Dysplasia and the possibility of these lesions being different stages of the same process (AU)