Postirradiation Sarcoma of Jaws

Postirradiation sarcoma of jaws is a rare mesenchymal malignant tumor that occurs in the mandible and is closely associated with a history of mandibular radiation therapy. The incidence of postirradiation sarcoma of the head and neck ranges from 0.06% to 0.17%, with 47.5% occurring in the mandible and a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1 [1–7]. Osteosarcoma accounts for the majority of pathological types, followed by fibrosarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Postirradiation sarcoma of the mandible occurs mostly in the mandibular ramus, and the interval with the radiotherapy for primary disease is 8–12 years on average [5–10] The clinical manifestations are mainly local swelling and pain, lower lip numbness, or abnormal sensation. The postirradiation sarcoma of the mandible has a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 12.3%. Radical surgical resection is the most important means of prolonging survival.