OSTEOSARCOMA OF THE JAW

Background. Osteogenic sarcoma of the jaw has clinical and prognostic differences from that of long bones. Methods. We reviewed 23 confirmed cases of osteosarcoma of the jaw seen at the Instituto Nacional de Ca ncerologia of Mexico between 1972 and 1990. Results. Fifty-seven perce nt of the patients were women. Median age for all patients was 28 year s. In 52% of cases, the neoplasm involved the maxilla. Tumor size rang ed from 5 to 24 cm (median 10 x 7 cm) and 87% of the neoplasms were gr ade III or IV (Broder's). Twenty one (91%) patients were treated with surgery (s); radiotherapy (Rt) was administered to 14 (61 %) and chemo therapy (Ct) to 11 (48%) patients. Clear (negative) surgical margins w ere obtained in 43% of surgically treated patients. Median follow-up f or 20 patients eligible for evaluation was 16.5 months. Survival at 5 years was 10%. Conclusions. We found that tumor size and surgical marg ins were significant prognostic factors. Early diagnosis of these tumo rs is mandatory to improve survival; the role of Ct and Rt is still un known. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.