Cherubism. Findings in three cases in the same family.

Cherubism is a benign hereditary giant-cell lesion of the mandibular and maxillary spongiosa which appears during childhood between the age of 2 and 5 years and progresses until puberty when it spontaneously regresses. It appears as a bilateral, painless swelling. It normally requires no treatment. Three children in the same Algerian family who suffered from this disease were brought to our department. Radiographic examinations were carried out, giving good definition of the lesions. The 3 patients were finally operated on, as operative treatment was, effectively, necessary.