childhood facial osteosracoma: a case report

osteosarcoma (os) is the eighth common cancer of childhood and its incidence is 4 cases in one million in children younger than 14. facial os incidence is estimated between 8 and 10% of os cases. the main etiology of os is unknown, but various predisposing factors are proposed such as radiation, radiotherapy, some benign bone diseases like paget’s disease or fibrous dysplasia. there is a 5-year survival rate of 68% and it decreases with the increase of age. positive history of radiotherapy is the main predisposing factor for childhood os. there is some evidence about the x-ray induced mutation in genomic dna that leads to osteosarcoma. in the present paper we present a 19-month old girl with a mass located in the inferior margin of the left cheek and orbit. our case is unique with regard to her young age and sex. moreover, the tumor was located in an uncommon site and her disease was progressive and resistant.