The rare occurrence of tumors of the facial skeleton, whether of dental
origin (odontogenic) or arising from bone (osteogenic), makes it
impossible for a single observer to appreciate fully the epi- demiologic
and clinical behavior of these lesions, even if he controls the case
material of a large institution. The systematic cooperation of many
scientists is necessary in order to compile a meaningful body of
information and make that information accessible for study. On the
initiative of one of the authors (B.S.), the German-Austrian- Swiss
Association for the Study of Tumors of the Face and Jaws (DOSAK)
resolved in 1971 to establish a special registry for tumors of the
facial skeleton, including odontogenic lesions. This registry has been
integrated into the bone tumor registry at the Swiss Asso- ciation for
Pathology in the Department of Pathology of the Uni- versity of Basel.
In 1974 DOSAK sponsored a symposium on odontogenic and os- teogenic
tumors of the jaws, at which illustrative cases were pre- sented and
discussed. These discussions revealed the problematic nature of these
tumors and prompted a number of reclassifications, including some
changes from benign to malignant and vice versa. It was found that
radical and in some cases mutilating operations would not have been
justified on the basis of the new classification. The discussions also
underscored the importance of considering all factors - epidemiologic,
clinical, radiologic and pathohistologi- when establishing a diagnosis.
