title: Osteosarcoma of the mandible mimicking an odontogenic abscess: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Inflammatory lesions, like periapical/odontogenic abscesses, are by far the most common pathologic condition of the jaws. Radiographically, these lesions commonly manifest as widening of periodontal ligament space, discontinuity of lamina dura and ill-defined periapical radiolucency. There are some rare disorders which could cause similar radiographic changes in the jaw bone. With careful scrutiny of periapical radiolucency, regular periodic follow-up radiographs and histo-pathologic examination, the periapical abscess or infection can be differentiated from rare fatal disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper highlights the need for vigilant examination of even the commonest, innocuous-appearing periapical changes which sometimes are produced by some rare fatal disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, MGV's KBH Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, India.
authors.forename: Chetan J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bhadage
authors.forename: Sagar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaishampayan
authors.forename: Swapnil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolhe
authors.forename: Hemant
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Umarji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000175:diagnosis; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000473:pathology