The central odontogenic fibroma: an attempt at clarification.

Three different but probably related central lesions of the jaws have been referred to previously as odontogenic fibromas. They are (1) hyperplastic dental follicles, (2) a fibrous neoplasm having a histologic appearance similar to that of a dental follicle, and (3) a more complicated lesion, illustrated in a WHO publication, consisting of fibrous connective tissue with varying amounts of odontogenic epithelium, dentin, and/or material resembling cementum. The terms simple odontogenic fibroma and odontogenic fibroma (WHO type) are proposed, respectively, for lesions 2 and 3 above. Some examples of lesion 3 may be confused histologically with the calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor. More information is required on the biologic behavior of both 1 and 2. A central fibroma of the jaws should be considered a desmoplastic fibroma if it does not appear to have arisen from the odontogenic apparatus and is not a neurofibroma.