So called "fibro-osseous lesions" of tumorous origin. Biology confronts terminology.

The terms "fibro-osteo-cemental lesions" or "ossifying" and "cementifying fibromas" are confusing and should be discarded and replaced by clear and distinct terminology based on clinically, radiologically and histopathologically observable and reproducible characteristics. Histogenetic features and biological potential rather than tumour tissue products alone should be regarded as the basis for nomenclature. A classification of "fibro-osseous lesions" and three tumorous entities which have been defined by the terms "periodontoma", "psammous desmo-osteoblastoma" and "trabecular desmo-osteoblastoma" are presented and illustrated. These proposed entities go some way to bridge the gap between clinical diagnosis on the one hand and morphological and descriptive diagnosis on the other.