Chondrosarcoma of the Jaws

From Volume 36, Issue 10, December 2009 | Pages 632-634

Authors

Timothy Edwin Lloyd

BDS, MBBCh, FRCS

Senior House Officer in Maxillofacial Surgery, Cardiff University, School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY

Articles by Timothy Edwin Lloyd

Nicholas Drage

BDS, FDS RCS(Eng), FDS RCPS(Glas), DDR RCR

Consultant Maxillofacial Radiologist, Cardiff University, School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY

Articles by Nicholas Drage

Andrew J Cronin

BDS, MBBCh, FFD RCSI, FRCS

Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, Cardiff University, School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY

Articles by Andrew J Cronin

Abstract

Chondrosarcomas are rare lesions within the head and neck. They are most common in the 4th to 5th decade of life and usually present as a painless swelling. The purpose of this paper is to present a case and review the literature with regard to the radiographic appearance. Although the radiographic appearance is variable, there are some features that are common to most cases, the most important feature being that of an ill-defined radiolucent lesion with scattered radio-opacities. Although these features are seen in other malignant diseases, these features should alert the clinician to the possibility of a chondrosarcoma.

Article