A case of primary intraosseous carcinoma of the mandible in a 75-year-old m
an is reported. This tumor is an uncommon lesion arising from odontogenic r
ests. This tumor affects men more than women and is more frequent in the si
xth and seventh decades of age. Most tumors occur in the posterior mandible
as painful, non-ulcerated lesions, even if several cases have shown comple
te absence of subjective symptoms in early phases; often they are detected
first on routine radiographs. Radiographically the lesion usually shows a f
ully enclosed, irregular pattern of bone destruction, even if sometimes the
margins are well defined. The accepted treatment is radical surgery; but m
etastases could occur in lymph nodes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri
ghts reserved.