Introduction:
Brown tumors of the jaw, also known as fibrocystic osteitis, are
non-neoplastic osteolytic lesions characterized by proliferation of
multinucleated giant cells in the maxilla and/or mandible, resulting
from abnormal bone metabolism related to with hyperparathyroidism (HPT).
HPT is a frequent endocrine disorder (third most common of endocrine
pathologies) which is characterized by hypersecretion of parathormone
(PTH). 1,2 A distinction is made between primary HPT
due to a disorder of the parathyroid glands and secondary HPT due to
non-parathyroid disorders inducing chronic hypersecretion of PTH.
Tertiary HPT is due to an autonomous secretion of parathyroid hormone in
patients with long-standing secondary HPT.
Brown tumors are the terminal stage of bone remodeling occurring during
primary, secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism and have specific
clinical and histological features allowing the diagnosis establishment
and its management. Early diagnosis and treatment of hyperparathyroidism
has made the clinical appearance of associated bone and especially jaw
lesions rare.