Peritrabecular clefting in fibrous dysplasia of the jaws: an important histopathologic feature for differentiating fibrous dysplasia from central ossifying fibroma

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this multicenter study was to perform a histomorphometric analysis of peritrabecular clefting in fibrous dysplasia (FD) in an attempt to obtain data that could be useful for distinguishing between FD and ossifying fibroma (OF).

Study design: A clinicopathologic analysis was performed in 68 patients diagnosed with FD and 37 patients diagnosed with OF. Histologic sections were scanned using an Aperio ScanScope CS. A histomorphometric analysis was performed with the aid of an image analyzer (UTHSCSA Image Tool 3.0 version) on 37 randomly selected samples of FD, and the results were compared with the 37 OF specimens.

Results: The presence of peritrabecular clefting was observed in 32 (86.5%) cases of FD, whereas no case of OF presented peritrabecular clefting.

Conclusions: Peritrabecular clefting may be a hallmark of the lesions in patients with FD, and it may be a valuable microscopic feature for distinguishing it from OF.