Malignant spindle cell tumor arising in the mandible of a patient with florid osseous dysplasia

Florid osseous dysplasia is a non-neoplastic condition of the alveolar proc esses of the jaws characterized by the replacement of multiple foci of bone by fibrous connective tissue, accompanied by gradual deposition of cementu m, bone, or both. The lesions are not associated with inflammatory diseases of the dental pulp or periodontal tissues. in fully developed florid osseo us dysplasia, there are multiple lobulated masses in the alveolar bone bila terally in the mandible and sometimes in the maxilla. This is the first rep ort of a malignancy originating within the jaws of a patient with florid os seous dysplasia. A spindle cell malignancy was diagnosed in the mandible of a 54-year-old black woman whose jaw was affected by florid osseous dysplas ia bilaterally Despite extensive surgery and radiotherapy, the patient died 20 months after diagnosis of the malignancy.