Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma of the jaw: two new cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma is very rare. We report two cases of primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma of the jaw, one arising from an odontogenic cyst and the other arising de novo. The first case was a 76-year-old man with right mandible pain. A panoramic radiography and computed tomography revealed a large mandibular radiolucency. A biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma, and radiotherapy and hemimandibulectomy were performed. The second case was a 50-year-old man with lymph node swelling on the left neck. Squamous cell carcinoma of the lymph node was suspected after fine needle biopsy. After left neck dissection, histological testing of the odontogenic cyst revealed squamous cell carcinoma, of which the mandible was thought to be the primary site. Our two cases have no recurrence, and panoramic radiography was a useful tool in the detection of mandible disease.