Desmoplastic fibroma of the jaws: surgical management and review of the literature.

Desmoplastic fibroma of the jaws is a rare and locally aggressive tumor that has a high rate of recurrence. The cellularity, extent of the tumor, and completeness of the local excision may be factors in its tendency to recur. We reviewed the literature in an attempt to determine if there was any correlation between the histologic features of a desmoplastic fibroma, or the surgical procedure utilized, and the tumor's recurrence. From the information gathered, it was found that a more cellular desmoplastic fibroma or inadequate surgical procedure may be factors that contribute to the recurrence of the tumor. A case report of desmoplastic fibroma of the mandible in a 9-year-old child is presented. The tumor, which displayed areas of moderate cellularity, was resected via a partial hemimandibulectomy. There has been no recurrence to date (46 months).