Analysis of 121 cases of osteosarcoma of jaws reported in the literature over the past two decades: a scoping review

Osteosarcomas of the Jaw (OSJ) are rare malignant tumors with unique characteristics compared to those in long bones. This study aimed to describe and analyze reported cases of OSJ published within the past two decades with emphasis on demographic features, clinical presentation, radiological findings and treatment outcomes. A comprehensive search of four databases, including PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Scopus, was conducted between 2003 and 2025 to identify publications reported cases of OSJ. There were 121 cases of OSJ with 84.3 % adult (median age: 35 years), and 15.7 % pediatric patients (median age: 13 years). Most cases were reported from Asia (66.9 %). Of all cases, 55.4 % occurred in the mandible. Approximately 65 % presented as painless swelling, 67.7 % (65/90) were smaller than 5 cm, and 53.3 % (31/55) exhibited paresthesia. Radiological features showed 18.8 % as radiolucent, 34.2 % as radiopaque, and 47.0 % as mixed. In 7 patients (5.8 %), OSJ occurred within fibro-osseous lesions, four of which were ossifying fibromas. OSJ presented as a periapical lesion in 4 patients (3.3 %) and developed during pregnancy in 4 patients (3.3 %). For treatment, 38.8 % underwent surgery alone, 34.7 % received surgery combined with chemotherapy, and 26.4 % received other modalities. Among 90 cases with follow-up data, 19 individuals (21.1 %) experienced local recurrence and 12 (14.3 %) developed distant metastasis. Surgical treatment showed the highest survival rates [pooled mean (standard error) = 54.2 (4.1) months]. Local recurrence and treatment approaches, particularly those integrating surgery with chemoradiation or alternative therapies, were associated with a significant reduced 5-year overall survival rate.