Primary intraosseous carcinoma of jaw – A diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

Primary intraosseous carcinoma (PIOC) is a relatively uncommon group of malignant tumors. The definite diagnosis of PIOC is often difficult, as the lesion must be distinguished from alveolar carcinoma that may invade the bone from the overlying soft tissues or from the tumors that may have metastasized to the jaw from a distant site and from the tumors of maxillary sinus origin. Since the most common symptom of PIOC is swelling and persistent pain in the mandible, the diagnosis becomes difficult, and an infectious etiology is commonly considered. Furthermore, as the diagnostic criteria of PIOC are obscure, the cases, which have been reported as PIOC in the English literature are very few. The author presents a case report with the review of the literature and also tries to solve the dilemma in the diagnosis of PIOC.