AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Ossifying fibroma is a tumor with benign course that rarely affects the cranial bones. METHODS: The authors report 5 cases of ossifying fibroma of the skull and analyze the clinical course and treatment of this lesion. RESULTS: 3 patients were females and 2 males. The mean clinical history was 3.2 years. 4 patients underwent total removal and 1 partial. At mean follow-up of 19 years, all patients who underwent total removal showed improvement of neurological deficit, whereas the patient who underwent partial removal had clinical regrowth. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that total removal of fibroma should be extended to normal bone and in cases in which total removal is not possible the residue should be checked for regrowth by serial MRI.
AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Ossifying fibroma is a tumor with benign course that rarely affects the cranial bones. METHODS: The authors report 5 cases of ossifying fibroma of the skull and analyze the clinical course and treatment of this lesion. RESULTS: 3 patients were females and 2 males. The mean clinical history was 3.2 years. 4 patients underwent total removal and 1 partial. At mean follow-up of 19 years, all patients who underwent total removal showed improvement of neurological deficit, whereas the patient who underwent partial removal had clinical regrowth. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that total removal of fibroma should be extended to normal bone and in cases in which total removal is not possible the residue should be checked for regrowth by serial MRI.