What the study found
The report describes a 5-year-old boy with a rare benign odontogenic tumour, meaning a tumour related to tooth-forming tissues, in the mandible (lower jaw) that presented mainly as long-standing trismus, or limited mouth opening. After treatment, the tumour did not recur during 1 year of follow-up, but the boy still had severe limitation of mouth opening.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that this case shows paediatric odontogenic myxoma of the mandible can present primarily with trismus and that persistent functional impairment can remain even after successful tumour removal. They also state that prolonged, progressive trismus in a child should be treated as a red-flag symptom that warrants prompt imaging and specialist evaluation.
What the researchers tested
This was a case report of a single 5-year-old boy. The team used orthopantomogram imaging, which is a panoramic dental X-ray, and MRI, then confirmed the diagnosis with biopsy before treating the lesion with enucleation and curettage, meaning surgical removal and scraping of the tumour.
What worked and what didn't
Imaging showed a multilocular radiolucent lesion in the left mandibular body and ramus with medial cortical perforation and close relation to the medial pterygoid muscle. Biopsy confirmed odontogenic myxoma, and surgery preserved mandibular continuity; at 1 year there was good radiographic bone regeneration and no evidence of recurrence, but mouth opening remained severely limited despite physiotherapy and jaw-stretching exercises. The inferior alveolar nerve was sacrificed during treatment.
What to keep in mind
This is a single case report, so the findings come from one child and cannot be generalized on their own. The abstract does not describe a comparison group or longer-term follow-up beyond 1 year.
Key points
- A 5-year-old boy with mandibular odontogenic myxoma presented mainly with long-standing trismus.
- Orthopantomogram and MRI showed a multilocular lesion in the left mandible with medial cortical perforation.
- Biopsy confirmed odontogenic myxoma before surgery.
- Enucleation and curettage preserved mandibular continuity, but the inferior alveolar nerve was sacrificed.
- At 1-year follow-up, there was no recurrence and good bone regeneration, but severe mouth-opening limitation persisted.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Childhood mandibular odontogenic myxoma presented with trismus
- Authors:
- Ruben Poelaert, Sien Van Roy, Taco A. van der Meulen, Olivier Lenssen, Marieke T. Brands
- Institutions:
- State Archives of Belgium, State Archives of Belgium, State Archives of Belgium, State Archives of Belgium, State Archives of Belgium
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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