Unusually aggressive osteomyelitis of the jaws. A report of two cases.

Two cases of unusually aggressive osteomyelitis of the jaws are reported. Both cases manifested severe, rapidly progressive lytic destruction of the maxilla in spite of the fact that patients were young, healthy adults with no local or systemic factors that would predispose them to severe infection in either case. Characteristic historical, clinical, radiographic, and histologic features are elaborated. Also, theoretical aspects of this disease entity are discussed in an effort to explain the unusually aggressive manner in which these cases presented.