Fibro-osseous, giant cell-containing and haematolymphoid jaw lesions

The World Health Organization (WHO) subdivides odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumours into benign and malignant bone and cartilage tumours, cysts of the jaw, odontogenic tumours, and giant cell lesions and bone cysts. The diagnosis of these entities is often a challenge for radiologists and pathologists alike, and is usually only successful in synopsis. Newly discovered molecular markers help to better understand and classify the lesions, facilitate diagnosis and offer possible molecular targets for targeted therapy. In this article, important fibro-osseous, giant cell-containing and haematolymphoid jaw lesions are discussed from a differential diagnostic point of view, taking into account new molecular genetic markers and the current WHO classification for head and neck tumours (fifth edition).