A DIAGNOSTIC DILEMMA OF JUVENILE OSSIFYING FIBROMA OF THE MANDIBLE IN A PEDIATRIC PATIENT CASE REPORT

Introduction: Juvenile Ossifying Fibroma (JOF) is an uncommon benign fibro-osseous tumor seen in children under 15 years of age, characterized by aggressive behavior and a high recurrence rate, which poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and necessitates long-term follow-up. This report describes a seven-year-old girl presenting with a five-month history of swelling in the left mandibular region. Clinical, radiographic, and histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of juvenile trabecular ossifying fibroma, and conservative management was planned instead of wide surgical excision. JOF is a distinct variant of ossifying fibroma with trabecular and psammomatoid subtypes, and its aggressive nature, recurrence potential, and resemblance to malignant bone lesions often complicate management. Accurate diagnosis, careful histopathological evaluation, and vigilant long-term postoperative monitoring are essential to achieve favorable outcomes in pediatric patients.