Author(s)

Evanthia Chrysomali, Ourania Schoinohoriti, Nadia Theologie-Lygidakis, Lambros Goutzanis, Ioannis Iatrou

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Background: Osteoblastoma, a rare osteoblastic tumor, constitutes approximately 1% of all primary bone tu- mors. Aim: The purpose of this report is to present an osteoblastoma of the mandible, with particular emphasis on the differential diagnosis of this rare tu- mor. Methods-Results: the lesion showed osteoblast- like cells, stromal cells, osteoclast-like cells and inter- lacing trabeculae of osteoid. Because of the high cel- lularity of the tumor, immunohistochemical analysis was performed using the cell proliferation marker Ki-67, the p53 and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. The lesion demonstrated low to moderate prolifera- tive activity and no immunoreactivity was detected for p53. An interesting finding was the Bcl-2 expres- sion by the multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells, in contrast to the lack of Bcl-2 expression from osteo- blast-like and stromal tumor cells. Conclusion: To our knowledge the Bcl-2 expression has not yet been in- vestigated in benign or malignant osteoblastic tumors. This finding may be related to the molecular mecha- nisms regulating the apoptosis of osteoclast-like tu- mor cells or their function.

Osteoblastoma; Mandible; Reconstruction; Immunohistochemistry; Ki-67; Bcl-2; p53; Bone Tumors

Chrysomali, E. , Schoinohoriti, O. , Theologie-Lygidakis, N. , Goutzanis, L. and Iatrou, I. (2011) Osteoblastoma of the mandible: a case report with immunohistochemical evaluation. Open Journal of Stomatology, 1, 207-211. doi: 10.4236/ojst.2011.14032.