Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia

Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia is a rare bone disease in which the bones are replaced by fibrous tissue. It is a variant of fibrous dysplasia, which occurs elsewhere in the body, usually the long bones of the legs, arms, or ribs. It is not hereditary or malignant.

Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia occurs in the bones of the face and skull, and causes a softening of the structures, resulting in deformity to the eye sockets and jaw. The deforming can cause symptoms of vision changes, hearing loss, congestion in the nose, pain, or a feeling of numbness, tingling, or burning. Many patients do not have symptoms, and the changes are only seen by a dentist or by a friend or family member, who notices an asymmetry.

Surgery for craniofacial fibrous dysplasia may be considered but is not always the best option.