[Malignant tumors of mandible in children]

Primary bone tumors represent about 7% of paediatric malignancies. Osteosarcoma and Ewing's tumor are the most frequent ones, however they are rare in facial bones. Mandibular localization is slightly more frequent and of better prognosis than maxillary one. Until 1995 there were only about 70 cases reported in the medical literature, mainly in the oncological or dental periodics. Our material consists of two children with Ewing's tumor of the mandible and one patient with osteosarcoma. The diagnosis was based on histopathological or cytological studies. The combined treatment--chemotherapy and radiotherapy--was performed in two patients with Ewing's tumor. The recommended resection of the mandible including the tumor mass has not been performed. No facial asymmetry is seen after termination of the radiotherapy. The boy with osteosarcoma underwent primary mandibular partial resection; a two-year chemotherapy was introduced only when metastases in the regional lymph nodes occurred (BLM, CTX, ACT-D, ADM, CDDP). The mandible was reconstructed surgically in 5 years after termination of radiotherapy and the anatomical relationship in the masticatory organ was restored. All children are now in good condition under our long-term observation. We present these cases of mandibular tumors regarding their rare occurrence and positive results of the introduced treatment.