Rare Pindborg Tumor Treated with Groundbreaking Rib Graft Surgery

A patient with a rare Pindborg tumor has been treated at Razumovsky Saratov State Medical University’s clinical hospital. The tumor, a calcifying epithelial odontogenic type, affected the right mandibular ramus and part of the mandibular body. It accounts for less than 1% of all odontogenic tumors, making the case exceptionally uncommon. The tumor had destroyed almost the entire ramus, leaving only a small fragment near the condylar head. Standard titanium implant reconstruction was ruled out due to insufficient supporting bone in the condylar region.

The medical team chose a biological solution: an autograft using the patient’s own rib. Thoracic surgeon Artyom Khmara harvested a full-thickness segment of rib, as shaved rib material would have risked resorption. Maxillofacial surgeons Galia Bakhteyeva and Daniil Kuznetsov then positioned and secured the graft to restore the jaw’s structure.

The procedure successfully rebuilt the patient’s mandibular integrity and facial profile. The reconstruction also created a stable base for future dental prosthetics. The use of a full-thickness rib graft allowed the team to overcome the lack of bone support in the condylar area. The surgery restored both function and appearance, providing a foundation for further dental treatment. The approach demonstrates a viable alternative to titanium implants in complex jaw reconstructions.