Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnancies Affected by Osteosarcoma of the Jaw: A Case Report

Abstract

The occurrence of cancers during pregnancy is very rare. The common malignancies during pregnancy include breast and cervical cancers, however, head and neck malignancies, on the other hand, are particularly rare, including osteosarcoma. The occurrence of osteosarcoma of the jaw during pregnancy is extremely rare, and its diagnosis can be challenging. When osteosarcoma is detected in pregnancy, the prognosis of both the mother and the fetus may be compromised. This article describes a case of osteosarcoma of the jaw in a 29-year-old African woman in her 28 th gestation week. She presented with a complain of a painful facial swelling for nearly 3 months. The swelling was preceded by a toothache in the posterior aspects of the left side of the upper jaw. She underwent a series of surgical procedures but the lesion recurred, and subsequently, chemotherapy was administered to her, however, the disease did not respond well and she subsequently succumbed to her disease. Here we discuss the challenges of diagnosis, management, and outcome of treatment for osteosarcoma of the jaw bone in pregnancy.