Osteosarcoma of jaws does not always have characteristic clinical symptoms or X-ray findings. Moreover, the disease is sometimes difficult to diagnose histopathologically even based on biopsy specimens. Here, two cases of osteosarcoma of the mandible, which were difficult to diagnose definitely, are reported.
Case: A 38-year-old female complained of paresthesia of the mental region. Osteomyelitis was suspected on clinical examination. A biopsy was performed, but a definitive diagnosis could not be established. Subsequently, the swelling increased and the radiological examination showed a ‘sun-ray’ appearance. On histopathological re-examination, a diagnosis of osteosarcoma was established.
Case 2: A 38-year old male complained of paresthesia of the left lower lip and swelling of the buccal gingiva of the left lower premolar region. A biopsy was performed under a clinical diagnosis of a malignant tumor of the mandible. However, the histological diagnosis was an aneurysmal bone cyst. After total enucleation, a diagnosis of osteosarcoma was histopathologically established.
