What is a common feature of cherubism?

Cherubism is characterized by the presence of bilateral mandibular swellings that typically manifest in children and are associated with expansive lesions that create radiolucent areas in the jaw on radiographic examination. These radiolucencies are due to the replacement of normal bone with tissue that resembles fibrous dysplasia. Specifically, it affects the mandible more often than the maxilla and leads to a distinct appearance noted in affected individuals.

While softening of bones and delayed eruption of primary teeth can potentially occur, they are not definitive or exclusive signs of cherubism. Softening of bones may indicate various skeletal disorders, and delayed tooth eruption can occur in several pediatric dental conditions. Bulbous crowns are not a typical feature associated with cherubism; these are more commonly related to other dental anomalies, such as in cases of enamel hypoplasia or dental dysplasia.

The radiolucencies are one of the hallmark findings in imaging studies for diagnosing cherubism, reinforcing their importance as a common and definitive feature of the condition.