Clinicopathologic study of 6 cases of epithelioid osteoblastoma of the jaws with immunoexpression analysis of FOS and FOSB.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathologic features of a series of gnathic epithelioid osteoblastomas. As high levels of c-Fos proteins resulting from FOS-FOSB translocation were recently demonstrated in osteoblastomas, we also evaluated the immunoexpression of these proteins. STUDY DESIGN:Records of all cases of epithelioid osteoblastoma of the jaws were retrieved from oral pathology services, and their clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical data were collected. Immunohistochemistry was also performed by using anti-FOS and anti-FOSB antibodies. RESULTS:Six cases of epithelioid osteoblastomas were obtained, 4 in men and 2 in women, and they were mainly located in the posterior body of the mandible (n = 4). Radiographically, the tumors showed mixed radiolucent and radiopaque images, most with poorly defined margins. Microscopically, large epithelioid cells with eccentrically located nuclei predominated among osteoid and immature bone trabeculae. Sharp delineation from adjacent normal bone was observed in all cases. FOS immunostaining was diffuse and strong in the cytoplasm and nucleus of neoplastic cells in all cases, whereas FOSB was only focally positive, with few epithelioid osteoblasts showing nuclear staining. CONCLUSIONS:Although epithelioid osteoblastomas of the jaws are locally aggressive, widespread metastasis does not occur, and, as with conventional osteoblastomas, there is wide expression of the FOS protein.

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