Intramedullary osteosarcoma of the mandible: a clinicoradiologic perspective

Mandibular Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma: A Case Report

Osteosarcoma is primarily a long-bone disease that rarely affects the facial bones. Chondroblastic osteosarcoma is a subvariant of osteosarcoma. Its defining characteristics include the presence of malignant spindle and polygonal cells, as well as a thick layer of chondroid matrix and interwoven neoplastic tissue deposition. Mandibular chondroblastic osteosarcoma, in particular, is often overlooked and disregarded as a presumptive diagnosis at the time of initial presentation. This is mainly because of its rarity or inadequate lesion evaluation. Here, we present the case of a 47-year-old female patient with a rapidly growing swelling at the anterior mandible that was initially misdiagnosed as an ossifying fibroma of the mandible. The subsequent histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the mandible. The patient requested a more extensive and aggressive excision, with the possibility of adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy. This article illustrates a rare case of mandibular chondroblastic osteosarcoma, with a focus on the clinical and pathological features of the tumor that should be taken into account when making a differential diagnosis for oral bone lesions.

Common conditions associated with mandibular canal widening: A literature review

Purpose

The aim of this study was to review the common conditions associated with mandibular canal widening.

Materials and Methods

General search engines and specialized databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, and Scopus were used to find relevant studies by using the following keywords: “mandibular canal,” “alveolar canal,” “inferior alveolar nerve canal,” “inferior dental canal,” “inferior mandibular canal,” “widening,” “enlargement,” “distension,” “expansion,” and “dilation.”

Results

In total, 130 articles were found, of which 80 were broadly relevant to the topic. We ultimately included 38 articles that were closely related to the topic of interest. When the data were compiled, the following 7 lesions were found to have a relationship with mandibular canal widening: non-Hodgkin lymphoma, osteosarcoma, schwannoma, neurofibroma, vascular malformation/hemangioma, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes, and perineural spreading or invasion.

Conclusion

When clinicians encounter a lesion associated with mandibular canal widening, they should immediately consider these entities in the differential diagnosis. Doing so will help dentists make more accurate diagnoses and develop better treatment plans based on patients' radiographs.

Chondroblastic osteosarcoma mimicking periapical abscess

Lesions of non-endodontic origin may mimic periapical abscess. Osteosarcoma is a rare malignant lesion.

Review of common conditions associated with periodontal ligament widening

Purpose

The aim of this article is to review a group of lesions associated with periodontal ligament (PDL) widening.

Materials and Methods

An electronic search was performed using specialized databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, and Scopus to find relevant studies by using keywords such as “periodontium”, “periodontal ligament”, “periodontal ligament space”, “widened periodontal ligament”, and “periodontal ligament widening”.

Results

Out of nearly 200 articles, about 60 were broadly relevant to the topic. Ultimately, 47 articles closely related to the topic of interest were reviewed. When the relevant data were compiled, the following 10 entities were identified: occlusal/orthodontic trauma, periodontal disease/periodontitis, pulpo-periapical lesions, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, progressive systemic sclerosis, radiation-induced bone defect, bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis, and osteomyelitis.

Conclusion

Although PDL widening may be encountered by many dentists during their routine daily procedures, the clinician should consider some serious related conditions as well.

Cancer and Referred Facial Pain

Orofacial pain may be a symptom of diverse types of cancers as a result of local or distant tumor effects. The pain can be presented with the same characteristics as any other orofacial pain disorder, and this should be recognized by the clinician. Orofacial pain also can arise as a consequence of cancer therapy. In the present article, we review the mechanisms of cancer-associated facial pain, its clinical presentation, and cancer therapy associated with orofacial pain.