Introduction: Head and neck malignancy frequently associate jawbones involvement. In their proper treatment, bone resections is often needed with significant consequences. Is these treatment really needed?

Material and methods: From 2006 to November 2012, 101 patients were treated by the Department of OMS with maxillectomies or mandibulectomies because of cancer envolment. Retrospective descriptive study of jawbones involvement was permormed. We compared the clinical and radiological preoperative assessment by physical examination and radiological study (OPG, cervical CT or MRI), following TNM staging, and its correlation with histopathological results of surgical specimens determining bone involvement. We then compared our results with the literature.

Results: In our series, the preoperative assessment of malignant lesions affecting the jaws correlates with histopathological results with a 6.6% rate of false negatives and 23.2% false positive.

Conclusions: The study of the jawbone involvement by head and neck malignancies, by physical examination, OPG and cervical CT with contrast shows an acceptable correlation with histopathological results; similar to the current literature. Despite these results, clinical consequences, quality of life and the cost of the removal and reconstruction of jaws, can justify the need for more specific diagnostic protocols for displaying these treatments.