Mandibular osteosarcoma: presentation of a challenging case initially misdiagnosed as molar pericoronitis

Marcelo Guzman-Letelier; Sebastian Araneda Rojas; Miguel Penarrocha-Diago; David Penarrocha-Oltra

Volume : VIII, Issue : III, March - 2018

Mandibular osteosarcoma: presentation of a challenging case initially misdiagnosed as molar pericoronitis

Marcelo Guzman Letelier, Sebastian Araneda Rojas, Miguel Penarrocha Diago, David Penarrocha Oltra

Abstract :

Osteosarcomas are malignant tumors characterized by the formation of osteoid matrix. They are mainly located in the long bones, and rarely (10%) in the head and neck region – only limited data on such lesions being available in the literature. A number of clinical presentations resembling periapical or cement–bony lesions have been documented, with radiologically subtle or manifest tumor growth. No standardized treatment protocol has been established for osteosarcoma of the head and neck unlike that it affects the long bones. It seems that radical surgery could be the treatment chosen because of its rapid advance and high potential for recurrence. The present article describes a case of mandibular osteosarcoma initially misdiagnosed and treated as lower third molar pericoronitis, emphasizing that the prognosis is related to the timely diagnosis of this neoplasm, that is why we emphasize the role of the dentist to quickly investigate the early clinical signs that could make us suspect that a malignancy is developing.