HIDDEN WITHIN THE JAW: AN UNUSUAL FINDING OF OSTEOSARCOMA FOLLOWING MANDIBULAR TRAUMA

This case report focuses on the aggressive nature of osteosarcoma in head and neck region which poses a diagnostic challenge and effort of maxillofacial surgeons to provide better prognosis by identifying in early stages. Background:A 24-year-old male patient presented with post traumatic swelling in left mandible with aggressive growth in just few weeks. He was initially reluctant to undergo the procedure as he overlooked the severity of the tumour. Diagnosis:Patient was diagnosed with parosteal juxtacortical osteosarcoma of the left mandible on clinicoradiohistopathological diagnosis and had no distant metastasis. Treatment:Multi-modality treatment implemented with hemi-mandibulectomy tumour free margins followed by radiochemotherapy. Outcome:There was no evidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis after one year of follow up period. Conclusion:Osteosarcomas of head and neck region are less than 2-10% of all cases. Emphasis on early diagnosis, negative surgical margins and inclusion of radio and chemotherapy provides disease free survival.