Osteosarcoma of the jaws: A case report

Osteosarcomas of the jaws are very rare accounting for only 6 to 7% of all osteosarcomas and 1% of all head and neck malignancies. The clinicopathological characteristics as well as the radiological characteristics are not specific, which represents a diagnostic dilemma. Indeed, this lesion is often mistaken for benign lesions of the maxillary.

We report a case of osteosarcoma of the jaws in a 45 year man who consulted in our service for a simple painless oral swelling evolving since a five months. The lesion was excised and histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the jaw.

Osteosarcomas are a rarely progressive tumor in the oral cavity that can show up as a case of a benign process of dental origin. During our practice, we often meet similar cases which are treated by usual medication, while a whole malignant process is in the progress and can be life-threatening. The case we present illustrates this perfectly, and owing to a deep clinical investment, the malignant process was stopped at its start.

The objective of presenting this case is to draw the attention of the doctors that any lesions even of benign appearance can hide a malignant process. Consider this point and integrate it into its diagnostic approach should be undertaken and should lead to a deepening of the clinical examination by comparing the clinical, radiological and histological data.