Osteosarcoma of the craniofacial bones. A clinico-pathological study

Thirty-four cases of osteosarcoma involving the craniofacial bones over a period of 19 years were reviewed. They formed 6.2% of osteosarcomas occurring in the skeleton during the same period at the Tata Memorial Hospital. Mean age of occurrence was 30.9% years, with a range of 7 to 61 years. Male preponderance was noted in maxillary tumours (M:F = 2.6:1), while the mandibular tumours occurred with equal frequency in both sexes. The mandible was the bone of origin in 56%, maxilla in 32% and other craniofacial bones in 12% of patients. Histological sub-type did not affect the prognosis. Radical surgery with resection of adequate disease-free margins is the most effective mode of treatment. Morbidity and mortality is due to extensive local recurrence of disease, particularly with maxillary tumours. Metastasis to other organs occurs rarely. No statistically significant difference in survival was observed between tumours of the mandible and maxilla, or between patients above and below 20 years of age.