Radiological aspects of osteosarcoma of the jaws.

OBJECTIVES To categorize the radiological presentation of osteosarcoma of the jaws. METHODS Conventional radiographs and CT scans of nine patients with histologically proven osteosarcoma were reviewed. RESULTS Five patients were men and four women, aged between 20 and 51; four lesions were in the maxilla and five in the mandible. Three radiological presentations of osteosarcoma of the jaw were identified. The first was radiolucent, characterized by a total absence of bone formation within the tumour. The second had a mottled appearance with small areas of amorphous ossification separated by non-ossified tumour tissue. The third, with lamellar ossification, was typically characterized by bony plates irradiating from a focus like a 'sunburst'. CONCLUSION Radiological diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the jaw can be difficult because of its variable appearance. CT is particularly useful.