title: Osteosarcoma of the jaws: a 23 year retrospective review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review 31 cases of osteosarcoma of the jaws in Zimbabwe, and to retrospectively study the age, gender, site distribution, clinical features and treatment outcome ofjaw osteosarcoma in Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral and Maxillofacial surgical clinics at two specialist referral hospitals, Harare Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Government Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 cases ofosteosarcoma of the jaws.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of patients who presented with osteosarcoma of the jaws during the period January 1981 to December 2003 were reviewed for age, gender, site of lesion, radiology, histopathology, treatment outcome and follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 31 cases of jaw osteosarcoma during the 23 year period: 45.2% (n=14) males and 54.8% (n=17) females, mean age 27 years. Of the cases 83.9% occurred in the mandible and 16.1% in the maxilla. Surgery was the treatment of choice. The majority of patients were lost to follow up within 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Jaw osteosarcoma is most common in the mandible with an equal male and female affliction in a relatively young age group.
authors: Department of Dentistry, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. mmchidzonga@medsch.uz.ac.zw
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Chidzonga
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mahomva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D015030:Zimbabwe