Osteoblastoma in the maxilla: report of a case

Abstract

A case of maxillary osteoblastoma in a 29-year-old man is presented. The patient developed a painful swelling on the right hard palate. Panoramic radiographs revealed a mixed radiolucent/radio-opaque mass surrounded by a narrow radiolucent zone in the apical area of the right maxillary first molar. Under the clinical diagnosis of apical periodontitis, root canal treatment for the molar was carried out. Bleeding from the root canal was observed during the treatment, and the painful swelling disappeared immediately. Shortly afterward, when the bleeding from the root canal stopped, the painful swelling recurred. CT showed a subcortical nodule in the right maxilla. Histopathological examination revealed the lesion was composed of immature bone with broad osteoid matrix at the periphery. The osteoid matrix of the immature bone was fringed with numerous plump osteoblasts without nuclear atypia. Some small foci composed of the neoplastic osteoblasts were associated with the osteoid. Histopathological diagnosis of the biopsy was benign osteoblastoma, and excision of the tumor completely relieved the pain. There has been no recurrence for 7 years. Reduction in vessel pressure due to root canal therapy was considered to have temporarily relieved the pain of osteoblastoma.