MASSIVE OSTEOLYSIS OF THE MANDIBLE WITH SUBSEQUENT OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA SYNDROME - A CASE-REPORT

Massive osteolysis is a rare disease characterized by progressive reso rption of contiguous osseous structures. Most cases are monostotic, al though polyostotic cases have been reported.(1) There are about 20 rep orted cases of maxillofacial involvement in the literature.(1-5) The m ost common sites of involvement are the pelvis, the shoulder, the scap ula, and the clavicle, with the mandible the most common maxillofacial bone involved.(1-6) The mortality rate of the disease is relatively l ow.(1) Jaw involvement, however, induce results in considerable dysfun ction and cosmetic disturbance. In this report, we describe a case of massive mandibular osteolysis accompanied by obstructive sleep apnea s yndrome (OSAS) treated well with nasal continuous positive airway pres sure (CPAP), and detail an 11 years' follow-up of the patient.