Desmoplastic fibroma of the mandible in a 3-year-old child.

A 3-year-old white girl was seen because of an enlarging mass in the left side of the mandible. The mass was 10 cm in diameter and the entire left hemimandible was involved. Examination of tissue after incisional biopsy showed desmoplastic fibroma. Surgical removal of the tumor required a hemimandibulectomy. The mandible was replaced immediately with a stainless steel mesh prosthesis with an acrylic condyle. A year later, there was no evidence of recurrence. Though the mesh became exposed in one area, we believe that esthetics and function were best served by its use.