[Extended resection and radiotherapy for primary intraosseous maxillary carcinoma]

Primary intraosseous maxillary carcinoma is a rare squamous cell carcinoma developing from remnants of the odontogenic epithelium. Risk factors are unknown and it may occur at any age. Little epidemiological data is available and few series include a sufficient number of patients. We assessed the prognosis of these tumors after wide exeresis (margin of 2 cm) followed by adjuvant radiotherapy.

We reviewed the treatment and outcome data in nine cases of primary intraosseous maxillary carcinoma from 1995 to 2010. The WHO diagnostic criteria were used. We analyzed the demographic, clinical, and radiological data, as well as the type of treatment and the outcome of patients.

The gender ratio was 3.5/1, and the mean age 40.2 years. The most frequent presentation was a unilocular osteolytic lesion with an irregular contour, between 24 and 60 mm, in the mandibular angle. Extended tumor resection was performed in all patients. Reconstruction was performed with a fibula flap in seven patients. Five patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. The survival rate at 2 years was 100%. The mean follow-up was 6.9 years (2-14 years) at the end of the study. Two patients were treated for a relapse and one died after 3 years of follow-up.

The combined treatment was efficient on primary intraosseous maxillary carcinoma. The diagnosis is made with strict clinical, radiological, and histological criteria. The intraosseous location of these tumors requires an early diagnosis and aggressive treatment combining broad exeresis followed by adjuvant radiotherapy to avoid recurrence and have an optimal survival rate.