Bilateral swelling of the jaws: a case of querubism

Cherubism is a benign bone dysplasia characterized by bilateral progressive enlargement of the jaws. It is an autosomal dominant disease and boys are more affected than girls. The first signs of manifestation of the disease are generally observed at about two years of age, followed by accelerated growth from 8-9 years of age and spontaneous interruption after puberty. The diagnosis is based on clinical, radiographic and histopathologic findings. Treatment is a controversial issue and therapy strategies include surgical treatment and medical treatment. We describe the case of a nine-year-old boy with bilateral swelling of the jaws who required surgical treatment.