Cherubism in sub-saharan Africa: a first case-report in a child

• Published in: Rare tumors Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 5675 - 13
• Main Authors: Aloni, Michel Ntetani, Kambere, Renault Sitwaminya, Molua, Antoine, Dilu, Joseph Nzinga, Tshibassu, Pierre Manianga, Kazadi-Lukusa, Aimé, Ngiyulu, René Makuala, Kalengayi, Raphael Mbona, Ehungu, Jean Lambert Gini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England PAGEPress Publications 18.02.2015; PAGEPress Publications, Pavia, Italy; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Case Report; cherubism, jaw involvement, child, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; cherubism; Kinshasa; jaw involvement; Democratic Republic of Congo; child
• ISSN: 2036-3605; 2036-3613; 2036-3613
• DOI: 10.4081/rt.2015.5675

Cherubism is rare disease and has been rarely reported in African pediatric population. We report here the case of a 10-year-old child who was referred to our hospital for bilateral jaws swelling. Physical examination revealed bilateral swelling symmetry of the face. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen showed loose fibrous stroma, proliferating fibrous connective with tissue interspersed with multinucleated giant cells, small thin walled blood vessels and scattered sparse mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. Our patient presented cherubism. Cherubism is rarely described in children living in sub-Saharan Africa. Genetic and molecular investigations plays an important role in diagnosis but were not available in poor resources settings in developing countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.