Genetic and Functional Analysis of Cherubism

Cherubism is a very rare bone disorder where bone gets excessively resorbed only in the jaw bones (mandible and maxilla). The resulting cavities in bone fill up with soft fibrous (fibro-osseous) tissues that can expand and push the bony shells apart. Thus the characteristic facial appearance in patients with progressed cherubism. Bone resorption (cherubism lesions) in this disorder occurs always symmetrically in the mandible, the maxilla or in both. This distinguishes cherubism from similar disorders. As cherubism progresses, the lesions can invade the eye sockets (inferior and/or lateral orbital walls) and displace the eye balls and push down the eyelids. As a result the sclera (white of the eye) below the iris becomes visible and patients have an upward gazing appearance (cherubic look) which gave the name to this fibro-proliferative bone disorder.

Cherubism typically appears between ages of 2-7 years. It is often diagnosed during dental evaluations. At early stages cherubism is accompanied by lymph node swelling. Proliferation of the fibro-osseous tissue typically stops after puberty and in many the soft tissue in the cherubic bone cavities are replaced by new bone.

For this study we will:

- Send out study participation kits and consent by phone

- Collect a saliva sample from eligible individuals

- Obtain information regarding cherubism

- Document disorder with photos and doctor's letters

- If patients undergo surgery for cherubism we ask to obtain some bone tissue that would otherwise be discarded

- Isolate DNA from the saliva sample

- Perform genetic analyses of the DNA with the most up-to-date methods available to identify genetic variations

- Study in the laboratory why the genetic variations cause the disorder