Periostitis ossificans arising in the mandibular bone of young patient: Report of an unusual case and review of the literature

Abstract Periostitis ossificans is a specific type of chronic osteomyelitis, which forms new bone under the periosteum, resulting from a periosteal reaction to chronic inflammation or infections. Periostitis ossificans has conservatively been called Garrè’s osteomyelitis before in our region. It commonly impacts the mandible of patients secondary to odontogenic infection. Therapeutic approach involves elimination of the infective origin and antibiotic administration. Here we report an unusual case of periostitis ossificans arising from the mandible of an 11-year-old male patient. The cause of infection was correlated with a lower right unerupted third molar, which had obviously no connection with the oral cavity. The histological diagnosis was chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis. The patient has been followed for 1 year, without any evidence of recurrences. Periostitis ossificans may be diagnostically problematic, and various conditions must be considered in the differential diagnosis.