Sarcomas of the mouth and jaws--a study of 16 autopsy cases

Sixteen autopsy cases of the primary sarcomas of the mouth and jaws were reviewed, which included 1 chondrosarcoma, 3 osteosarcomas, 1 leiomyosarcoma, 7 rhabdomyosarcomas and 4 histiocytic lymphoma (reticulum cell sarcoma). Although the case materials studied were too small, the pattern of the spread of the sarcomas of the mouth and jaw was likely to be divided into two groups, localized and generalized. The former is comprised of chondrosarcoma osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma and pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. The latter is comprised of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and histiocytic lymphoma. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma belongs to either depending on the case. The former, being resistant to local therapy, tended to recur with a contiguous spread but was slow to metastasize. Metastases were limited to the lung and pleura through the hematogenous route. The primary sarcoma of the latter group were not so extended in local spread and occasionally cured with therapy. However, metastases, both hematogenous and lymphogenous, were generalized.