Multiple osteosclerotic masses of the jaw.

Florid osseous dysplasia is a peculiar reactive or developmental bone disease that is known to appear only in the jaws. It has an inexplicable decided predilection for occurrence in middle-aged, black women. Extent of the disease may vary from a few isolated periapical lesions to diffuse involvement of the mandibular and maxillary alveolar processes. Radiographically, it is characterized by multiquadrant, globular, radiolucent-radiopaque lesions. Histopathologically, it is a benign fibro-osseous lesion that must be differentiated from other benign fibro-osseous lesions such as fibrous dysplasia, ossifying fibroma, Paget's disease, and sclerosing osteomyelitis on the basis of combined clinical, radiographic, and histological features. Correctly identifying this disease is important because it requires no treatment unless a secondary osteomyelitis develops. Sequestrae and osteomyelitis are complications arising when teeth are removed and removable dental prostheses are supported by diseased bone.