Introduction:

Osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma are malignant lesions which locate most frequently in extremities and less frequently in craniofacial territory. Concrete imaging features in craniofacial territory that identify each pathology have not been reported. The aim of the present narrative review is to analyze the epidemiological and imaging features of the craniofacial osteosarcoma (CFOS) and craniofacial chondrosarcoma (CFCS).

Materials and methods:

We analyzed the information on CFOS and CFCS published between 2011 and 2021, focused on imaging analysis.

Results:

CFOS and CFCS do not show sex preference. Whilst CFOS is usually located in bones of membranous origin and is commonly discovered between the third and fourth decade of life, CFCS is usually located in areas of endochondral origin and commonly appears between the third and sixth decade of life. Three radiological presentation patterns are observed in CFOS: sclerotic, lytic and mixed, unlike the CFCS, where only the lytic pattern has been observed. Both pathologies have infiltrated margins. The imaging study is performed with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, bone scintigraphy, single-photon computed tomography and positron emission tomography, among others. Local recurrence is more common than metastasis in both pathologies.

Conclusion:

CFOS and CFCS have different clinical and epidemiological features but similar imaging features. Stablishing differences between both pathologies is essential to achieve a correct presumptive diagnosis.

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