A case of maxillary osteosarcoma with epuloid growth

This report presents a case of maxillary osteosarcoma that was initially considered to be granulomatous epulis. A pedunculated mass was found on the buccal gingiva in the right maxillary molar region in a 45-year-old male patient at the initial examination. The clinical and pathological findings indicated that the mass was an epulis. However, a partial maxillectomy was performed under general anesthesia because the rapidly enlarged mass was clinically diagnosed as a maxillary tumor. A pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed that the maxillary tumor was osteosarcoma with a partially positive surgical stump. A total resection of the maxilla was performed under general anesthesia because recurrence was observed at 3 years postoperatively. Recurrence of a tumor that invaded into the cranial base was found at 2.5 years after reoperation despite three courses of adjuvant chemotherapy. Heavy particle radiotherapy was administered. Unfortunately, the patient died at 6 years and 2 months after the first operation due to tumor growth and a gradual worsening of his general condition. The experience from the present case suggested that an early diagnosis and an appropriate surgical therapy is very important for a satisfactory treatment outcomes of the jawbone osteosarcoma.