A SINGLE-CENTER CASE SERIES OF ORAL CAVITY SARCOMAS

IntroductionOral cavity sarcomas are rare and account for 1% of all malignancies in this site. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, variety and distribution of soft tissue and gnathic sarcoma in the oral cavity.MethodsAn IRB approved retrospective review encompassing years 2010-2020 of the University of Florida Oral Pathology Biopsy Service was performed. All histologically proven sarcomas occurring in the oral and maxillofacial area were retrieved. Demographics, clinical data, immunohistochemical analysis, and microscopic diagnoses were recorded and analyzed.ResultsA total of 34 oral sarcomas were identified. The most prevalent were osteosarcoma (10 cases; 29.4%) followed by Kaposi sarcoma (9 cases; 26.4%) followed by undifferentiated sarcoma (3 cases; 8.8%). Three cases were unclassifiable due to lack of evidence of any specific lineage. Additional examples of sarcoma included; angiosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, low grade myxofibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Molecular testing was performed on two cases. Age range was 11 to 82 (mean 42.35 years). Males were more affected than females (73.5% and 26.5% respectively). Central lesions accounted for 58.8% of the cases and 41.2 % were soft tissue sarcoma. All patients presented with primary tumors. The most commonly affected sites were mandible (13 cases; 65%), maxilla (11 cases; 32.4%), and tongue (4 cases; 11.8%). Malignant neoplasm was the most common reported clinical impression by submitting clinicians (18 cases; 52.9%). Lesion evolution time ranged from 3 weeks to one year. The most commonly reported symptoms with soft tissue tumors were localized pain, swelling, and bleeding. Most of the central lesions were radiolucent and caused cortical expansion.ConclusionOral cavity sarcomas are rare neoplasms; however, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis whenever a large expansile, destructive, ill-defined or rapidly growing lesion is seen in a relatively young individual or paresthesia is reported.