Bilateral, well-defined radiopacities are noted in the anterior lingual mandible on periapical films. A biopsy of these findings would reveal:

Correct answer: B. Normal cortical bone covered by normal mucosa

• A. ❌ A calcifying odontogenic cyst (Gorlin cyst) shows ghost cells and is a mixed radiolucent-radiopaque lesion, not bilateral bony protuberances.
• B. ✅ CORRECT — Bilateral bony hard swellings on the lingual mandible above the mylohyoid line are TORUS MANDIBULARIS (a developmental exostosis). Histologically they are simply dense lamellar cortical bone with a thin covering of normal keratinized mucosa. No treatment is needed unless they interfere with a prosthesis, hygiene, or speech.
• C. ❌ Fibrous dysplasia produces irregular woven bone in a fibrous stroma with a ground-glass radiographic pattern and unilateral, blended borders.
• D. ❌ Osteomyelitis shows inflammatory infiltrate, necrotic bone and sequestra, with pain and swelling clinically.

Note: Tori are the most common oral exostoses: torus palatinus (midline palate) and torus mandibularis (bilateral lingual, ~90% of cases bilateral).