Radiological features of primary intra-osseous carcinoma of the jaws. Analysis of the literature and report of a new case

To analyse the clinical and radiological features of primary intra-osseous carcinoma of the jaws (PIOC). Twenty-four cases (23 from the literature and one new case) of PIOC were reviewed. Patient's age at time of diagnosis ranged from 4-76 years, (mean 50 years). Male to female ratio was 1.7:1. Most lesions (79%) were in the mandible and of these, 95% were in the posterior area, approximately 70% of the maxillary lesions were in the anterior region and crossed the midline. In 87% of the cases PIOC was radiolucent; the remainder were mixed radiolucent-radiopaque lesions. The radiological borders were defined but none corticated in 57% of the cases and diffuse in 43%. The lesion was unilocular in 61% and not loculated in 35%. The variable radiological features of PIOC and its deceptive resemblance to odontogenic cysts and other tumours of the jaws suggests that despite its rarity, PIOC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of radiolucent lesions in the jaws.