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.