RESUMO
ABSTRACT: Chronic osteomyelitis is a bone disease that is characterized by inflammatory processes, including necrosis of mineralized and marrow tissues, suppuration, resorption, sclerosis, and hyperplasia. The primary cause of chronic osteomyelitis is usually microbiologic, and it results from an odontogenic infection, postextraction complication, inadequate removal of necrotic bone, early termination of antibiotic therapy, inappropriate selection of antibiotics, diagnostic failure, trauma, inadequate treatment for a fracture, or irradiation to the mandible. The incidence of malignant transformation of chronic osteomyelitis in the head and neck region is very low and rare in developed countries. This is the first case report on the malignant transformation of chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible which discusses its etiopathogenesis and radiographic imaging.