Free osseous and soft tissue surgical margins as prognostic factors in mandibular osteosarcoma

A new concept for mandible reconstruction after oncological resection: Multisegment virtual surgical planning

PURPOSE

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) is good for three dimensional reconstructions in maxillofacial surgery, but it is not problem-free completely especially when the resection margins cannot be affirmed in preoperative period. We aimed to obtain an ideal reconstruction with elaborating VSP to be prepared for adverse conditions during surgery and to proceed the oncological resections step- by- step with A, B, and C resection planes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Four patients undergoing multisegment VSP for the primary mandible malignancies were included in the study. The first resection margin was detected as plan A in VSP, and plans of B and C were also prepared considering the tumor- positive result of intraoperative frozen section procedure.

RESULTS

Following the tumor resection, margins were extended to the plan B in two patients, and plan C in one patient in accordance with the results of the frozen section procedure.Histogram comparison of the localizations of osteotomies in mandible and fibula, and positions of the implants were calculated at a confidence level of 95 % (p > 0.95) and mean difference was found -0.55 mm, while standard deviation was 1.76 mm.

CONCLUSION

Multisegment virtual surgical planning seems to achieve the optimal reconstruction with the staged resection preventing redundant removal of tumor- free structures like bone and teeth.

Osteosarcoma of the maxilla presenting as a chronic pyogenic abscess: A case report

Introduction

Osteosarcoma of the maxilla is recorded as the least common of all bone malignancies. It exhibits a clinical behavior and natural history distinct from their counterparts of the trunk and extremities. Transformation from a chronic pyogenic abscess of the maxilla is even more unusual.

Case summary

A 70 year old lady presented to our hospital with a hard, fixed and tender bony swelling in her left cheek. She had initially presented to a different hospital with a similar presentation which was excised after imaging and post excision was found to be a chronic pyogenic abscess. The swelling reappeared within one year and on re-excision was found to be a low grade paraosteal osteosarcoma of the hard palate. CECT and PET-CT work-up at our hospital showed a left maxillary sinus growth with prominent neck lymph nodes along with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pulmonary metastasis. Final histopathology revealed ulcerated stratified squamous epithelium mucosa overlying a lesion suggestive of osteosarcoma.

Discussion

Complete surgical excision with negative margins continues to be the mainstay of treatment, but osteosarcomas of maxillofacial region pose difficulties in obtaining tumour free margins because of their complex anatomy around the cranium. Surgery may be complemented by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Small size of the tumour and low-grade histology have been assumed to reflect a better prognosis.

Conclusion

Osteosarcoma of maxillofacial region has variable appearance clinically as well as radiologically posing a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Any chronic abscess or recurrent cheek swelling thus necessitates further suspicion and requires a full work-up to rule out this high risk malignancy.

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Osteosarcoma of the maxilla is recorded as the least common of all bone malignancies with transformation from a chronic pyogenic abscess of the maxilla being even more unusual.

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Complete surgical excision with negative margins is the mainstay of treatment for better prognosis complemented with or without adjuvant radiotherapy.

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Any chronic abscess or recurrent cheek swelling necessitates further suspicion and requires a full work-up to rule out this high risk malignancy.

Locally Advanced Osteosarcoma of the Ethmoid Sinus: A Report of Successful Management

Osteosarcoma of the skull has poor outcomes. This case report describes the presentation and clinical course of a patient who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the skull involving the cribriform plate. After her initial diagnosis, she developed esotropia with severe unremitting headaches. She received palliative radiation, followed by chemotherapy, and responded well. Her initial symptoms involving the cranial nerves subsided, and her response was sustained. This report illustrates the need to effectively treat osteosarcoma of the skull despite its reported poor outcomes.

Adolescent and Young Adult Oral Maxillofacial Tumors: A Single-Institution Case Series and Literature Review

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) oral maxillofacial tumors are rare and account for ∼12% of all AYA cancers. Due to the low incidence of these malignancies, diagnostic considerations, therapeutic approaches, and factors affecting prognosis have been difficult to characterize. Given the anatomic structures located within the head and neck, patients are at risk for treatment-related morbidity that may adversely impact their quality of life. We present a single-institution case series of AYA patients with oral maxillofacial tumors treated at the University of Illinois at Chicago. A multidisciplinary treatment approach, including collaboration with the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Dentistry, and the Ear, Nose, and Throat teams along with the utilization of Children's Oncology Group treatment protocols, can serve as a model to address the challenges in the management of these complex cases.

Young Adult With Osteosarcoma of the Mandible and the Challenge in Management: Review of the Pediatric and Adult Literatures

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma of the jaw (OSJ) remains controversial despite being a standardized treatment in osteosarcoma of the long bones. We present a case of a 22-year-old male with OSJ and performed a retrospective systemic review of previously published literatures of OSJ. We identified 27 articles: 7% recommended neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 22% recommended adjuvant chemotherapy, 19% recommended both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, 33% recommended against chemotherapy and 19% stated the role of chemotherapy is unknown. The lack of consensus regarding the use of chemotherapy in OSJ, despite its benefits, demonstrates the need to establish a standardized algorithm for OSJ.

Osteosarcomas of the Head and Neck Region: A Case Series with a Review of Literature

Background

Osteosarcomas of head and neck region have unique biology and exhibit a clinical behavior and natural history that is distinct from osteosarcomas of the trunk and extremities. Our understanding of this malignant bone tumor is largely based on data from single institutions or compiled from registries, and hence the clinical practice guidelines seem confusing and conflicting.

Aims and Objectives

To analyze the demographic profile, disease characteristics and survival outcomes of osteosarcoma of head and neck region.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective analysis of the patients treated for osteosarcoma of head and neck region with curative intent in the period between the years 2001-2013 at a tertiary cancer center from South India.

Results

A total of 14 patients were treated in the said period with a mean age of 37 years. The most common site was mandible (n = 9 patients) followed by maxilla (n = 4) and paranasal sinuses (n = 1). Conventional osteoblastic variant of OS was the most common histological variant (n = 8) followed by the chondroblastic variant (n = 5). The median disease-free survival was 41.7 months, whereas the median overall survival of our patient cohort was 47.6 months. A formal analysis of various prognostic factors showed only postoperative margin positivity to be the single important factor affecting the survival outcomes.

Conclusion

Head and neck osteosarcoma that most commonly afflicts the jaw bones occurs in the fourth decade of life. Despite being a small series, our study does highlight the importance of achieving a margin-negative resection as a part of the multimodality treatment of head and neck osteosarcomas. Considering the relative paucity of data, there is a need for multi-institutional collaborative studies to refine the therapeutic strategies for the management of patients with head and neck osteosarcomas.

Current update on the diagnosis and management of head and neck soft tissue sarcomas

Head and neck soft tissue sarcomas are a group of rare heterogeneous tumours arising from embryonic mesoderm. They comprise <1% of all head and neck malignancies and 5-15% of all sarcomas with most head and neck sarcomas arising from soft tissues. Although rare, they are associated with both high recurrence and mortality rates. We review the current management of head and neck soft tissue sarcomas.

Osteoblastic Extraosseous Osteosarcoma of the Neck

Extraosseous osteosarcoma as a primary tumor of the neck is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported to date. The most appropriate therapy is still under investigation. We report a case of an aggressive, right-sided, advanced-stage extraosseous osteosarcoma in a female patient. A 48-year-old woman presented with a right-sided infra-parotid mass encompassing neck regions II and III, measuring over 6 cm in craniocaudal diameter. She was initially treated by wide surgical resection. The definitive histopathologic diagnosis was osteoblastic extraosseous osteosarcoma. Computed tomography at initial presentation did not show signs of tumorous growth in other areas. The patient was treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy postoperatively. A local recurrence with intraspinal propagation was noted 4 months after surgery, and a second surgical attempt was made to remove the tumor. The disease recurred in the neck and spine 3 months after the second surgical procedure, and a final unsuccessful attempt at reducing the tumor mass was performed. The tumor site was reirradiated. The patient died of local disease propagation 3 months later. Extraosseous osteosarcoma of the neck is an extremely rare tumor, distinct from primary osteosarcoma of the bone, with a high rate of local recurrence and poor prognosis in advanced disease.

Head and neck sarcomas: clinical and histopathological presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Sarcoma of the head and neck is a rare condition that poses significant challenges in management and often requires radical multimodality treatment.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyse current clinical presentation, evaluation, management dilemmas and oncological outcomes.

METHODS

Computer records and case notes were analysed, and 39 patients were identified. Variables were compared using Pearson's chi-square test and the log-rank test, while survival outcomes were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The histopathological diagnosis was Kaposi sarcoma in 20.5 per cent of cases, chondrosarcoma in 15.3 per cent and osteosarcoma in 10.2 per cent. A range of other sarcomas were diagnosed in the remaining patients. The site of disease was most commonly sinonasal, followed by the oral cavity and larynx.

CONCLUSION

Wide local excision with clear resection margins is essential to achieve local control and long-term survival. There is a need for cross-specialty collaboration in order to accrue the evidence which will be necessary to improve long-term outcomes.

A case of radiation-induced osteosarcoma treated effectively by boron neutron capture therapy

We treated a 54-year-old Japanese female with a recurrent radiation-induced osteosarcoma arising from left occipital skull, by reactor-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Her tumor grew rapidly with subcutaneous and epidural extension. She eventually could not walk because of cerebellar ataxia. The tumor was inoperable and radioresistant. BNCT showed a marked initial therapeutic effect: the subcutaneous/epidural tumor reduced without radiation damage of the scalp except hair loss and the patient could walk again only 3 weeks after BNCT. BNCT seems to be a safe and very effective modality in the management of radiation-induced osteosarcomas that are not eligible for operation and other treatment modalities.

Osteosarcoma: A Comparison of Jaw versus Nonjaw Localizations and Review of the Literature

Purpose. It is assumed that osteosarcomas of the jaws mainly occur at older ages, whereas the most prominent sites, that is, the long bones, are more affected at ages <20. Jaw-localized tumors are less malignant and have lower metastatic spread rates. Patients and Methods. This study analyses the nationwide data of the Dutch Cancer Registry on osteosarcoma during the period from 1991 to 2010. Age-corrected incidence rates were calculated. Results. In 949, 38 patients had tumors in the maxilla and in 58 in the mandible. Median age for maxilla, mandible, and other localizations was 45.5, 49, and 23 years, respectively. Age-corrected incidence for osteosarcomas increased after a steep decline for the age cohorts from 20 to 60 years to nearly the same level as the younger patients. The incidence for maxillary lesions showed a steady increase from 0.46 to 1.60 per million over all age ranges; the highest incidence for mandibular lesions was found in the age cohort from 60 to 79 years. In respect to histology, no shifts for age were found, except for Paget's disease-related osteosarcoma. In older patients, chemotherapy was omitted more often. Overall survival was similar for all age groups, except for extragnatic tumor patients in the age range of 60-79 years. Conclusions. Osteosarcomas have comparable incidences below the age of 20 as compared with ages >60 years. Poorer outcome in older people is likely due to refraining from chemotherapy.

Osteosarcoma of the jaws: a review of literature and a case report on synchronous multicentric osteosarcomas

Background

In the head and neck region, osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, representing 23% of total head and neck malignancies. Osteosarcomas of the jaws are nevertheless rare lesions, representing only 2 to 10% of all osteosarcomas. This report reviews a single-center histopathology experience with craniofacial osteosarcomas, and reports the management of unusually large synchronous mandibular and maxillary osteosarcomas in a patient.

Patients and methods

A search of the hospital pathology database for specimens with a histological diagnosis of osteosarcomas submitted between July 1992 and May 2011 was made. A chart review of a patient with large synchronous maxillary and mandibular osteosarcomas was performed, and is reported.

Case presentation

A 21-year-old African man with large maxillary and mandibular tumors under palliative care presented with increasing difficulties with eating, speech, and breathing. Surgical debulking was performed, with histology confirming synchronous osteosarcomas of the mandible and maxilla. The patient is well after one year, with no evidence of recurrence, having undergone no further treatment.

Conclusion

Osteosarcomas of the jaw remain enigmatic, and a number of difficulties related to their diagnosis and treatment are yet to be resolved. True synchronous multicentric osteosarcomas of the jaws are extremely rare but, like other osteosarcomas of the jaws, have a favorable outcome, and palliative resection of such lesions, though challenging, can therefore lead to an enormously improved quality of life and self-image, and may even offer the opportunity for cure.

Extraosseous osteosarcoma in the neck

BACKGROUND

Extraosseous osteosarcoma arising in the head and neck region is an exceptional finding, with a few isolated cases informed in the literature. We report a new case of a large high-grade extraosseous osteosarcoma located in the neck.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 74 year-old woman with a tumor on the right side of the neck was treated by complete surgical resection. The histopathological diagnosis was osteoblastic extraosseous osteosarcoma. PET-CT scan disclosed no evidence of disease in other areas. Patient received adjuvant radiotherapy and after 3 months of follow-up tumor activity was detected in the cavernous sinus and the patient died of disease one month later.

CONCLUSION

Extraosseous osteosarcoma in head and neck region is exceptional, and incisional biopsy is the only method to establish a diagnosis and the one to differentiate it from other bone-producing soft tissue tumors. Surgery is the gold standard for treatment of extraosseous osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcomas of the mandible: are they different from other tumor sites?

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcomas of the mandible (MOS) affect 1/10 million persons/year, mostly the young adult. Due to lack of specific data, the treatment of MOS is extrapolated from that of extragnathic OS but varies widely between institutions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We aimed at providing a focused description of MOS histologies and grades through the English literature, at determining the evidence-based role of chemotherapy, of adjuvant radiation therapy and the potential of reconstructive surgery tailored through modern pre-operative multi-modal imaging.

RESULTS

The estimated proportion of high grade MOS was 58%. However, low-grade MOS may be underestimated as they are mostly reported as case reports. The intermediate grade was hardly found in the literature. Estimated weighted-mean proportions of chondroblastic and osteoblastic MOS were 37% and 46%, respectively. Multimodal imaging modalities including MRI has a great potential for accurate pre-operative assessment of tumor extensions into bone and soft tissues. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment and margins the most important factor. The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in treating occult systemic metastases and in increasing the probability of clear margins is controversial, as well as the histology-dependent response to chemotherapy. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy (mostly proposed for positive margins) and/or adjuvant chemotherapy is still controversial. Crude survival is around 77% and local control around 67%. Local failure is the main cause of death in MOS compared to extragnathic sites.

Osteogenic sarcoma of the maxillary region in a Mexican mestizo population

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study analyzed maxillary osteosarcoma in a mestizo population, with particular emphasis on the type of treatment and disease-free and overall survival.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study including all mestizo patients with osteosarcoma of the maxilla seen in a single cancer institution in Mexico during a 20-year period.

RESULTS

There were 21 patients. Age ranged from 16 to 76 years (mean, 37.5 y). Mean evolution time to diagnosis was 13 months, with a mean tumor size of 7 × 6 cm2. Surgery was the initial treatment in 19 patients, 17 of whom received adjuvant treatment. Disease-free survival according to surgical margin and overall survival were not statistically significant. Disease-free survival was 29% at 5 years, and overall survival was 50% and 25% at 5 and 10 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteosarcomas of the maxilla are infrequent lesions that merit early diagnosis and proper treatment because of their rapid evolution. Treatment is currently based on a well-planned surgery with free surgical margins plus adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.