Chondroblastic osteosarcoma arising in the maxilla mimicking the radiographic and histological characteristics of cemento-osseous lesions: A case report

Abstract

Osteosarcomas of the jaw are comparatively rare and represent only 2-10% of all osteosarcomas. We herein present a rare case of an osteosarcoma exhibiting the radiographic and histological characteristics of cemento-osseous lesions in the alveolar ridge of the maxilla. A 53-year-old male patient presented with the complaint of gradual swelling of the left maxilla over 4 years. Radiography revealed an ill-defined radioopaque mass, intimately associated with the apices of the involved teeth, without a periosteal reaction. Microscopically, a cementicle-like structure was identified in the alveolar bone. In addition, the lesion exhibited typical characteristics of chondroblastic osteosarcoma in the body of the maxilla. The tumor contained abundant osteoid and cartilage intimately associated with anaplastic tumor cells. The cartilage displayed malignant-appearing cells in lacunae, and there was crowding at the periphery of the lobule where the spindle cells formed sheets. The differential diagnosis included primary osteosarcoma, concurrent cemento-osseous dysplasia and osteosarcoma, or a secondary osteosarcoma based on a pre-existing cemento-osseous lesion. The presence of the cementicle-like structure in the alveolar bone and the involvement of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone proper were unique in our case. The general invasive growth pattern and the abundance of the irregular tumor bone helped establish the diagnosis of primary osteosarcoma. This case may represent evidence of the pathogenesis of primary osteosarcoma in the jaw.