Primary tumours and tumour-like conditions of the mandible

Reports on comprehensive mandibular tumours are very rare. The present article describes a total of 81 primary tumour and tumour-like lesions of the mandible seen at the University Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, during last 16 years. In the mandible the ratio of odonto-genic to nonodontogenic tumors is 1.6:1. Ameloblastomas constitute 56% of the odontogenic tumors. Among the benign mesenchymal tumours of the jaw 58% are neoplastic and 42% are nonneoplastic in which cementoostoid tissue is laid down secondary to inflammatory process. Over all 40 cases are benign 28 potentially malignant (ameloblastoma) and 13 are malignant lesions. Among the malignant mandibular tumours, bone tumours are more common than the soft tissue sarcomas. Microscopically mandibular osteosarcomas are better differentiated than similar tumours in the long bones. Local, segmental, or radical surgery seems to be the treatment of choice in the mandibular tumours.