Non-Familial Cherubism: A rare case report with long-term clinical and radiological follow-up

Cherubism is a rare autosomal-dominant genetic defect that primarily affects the mandible or occasionally the mandible and the maxilla. It evolves and progresses in childhood to resolve spontaneously to a certain degree in adulthood. Clinical characteristics is a symmetrical expansion of the bone which in case of maxillary involvement may give a scleral show with the resemblance of a cherub. Increased volume can affect the patient psychologically and esthetically as well as give clinical symptoms as tooth loss, missing eruption of teeth, phonetic challenges and malocclusion. Surgical approaches depend on the degree of affection. A 15-year old male with an atypical asymmetrical growth pattern due to cherubism is presented. This patient is not among previous described Danish genealogies of cherubism. In spite of the unusual asymmetry, other characteristic features of cherubism left no doubt of the diagnosis. The patient's esthetic dissatisfaction was solved by surgical correction. Recall at 18 year follow-up showed the characteristic features associated with regression of the disease.