Osteosarcoma of the maxilla

Abstract

Background. Maxillofacial sarcomas are rare tumours and osteosarcoma of the jaws is an exceptionally rare entity. Unlike osteosarcoma of the long bones, maxillofacial osteosarcomas are reported to occur in the third or fourth decades.

Case report. We report an 18-year-old female patient with the histopathologic diagnosis of osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the maxillary bone on the basis of computerized tomographic findings. Following the initial surgery and the adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy, a massive local recurrence developed in the facial region of the patient within two years.

Conclusions. The radiographic evaluation of the osteosarcoma of the maxilla is important in the diagnosis and obtaining a complete surgical therapy. CT examination of this region after plain radiography plays a major role at the diagnosis.