Clinical study of metastatic tumors to the jaws and oral cavity

Abstract

Metastatic tumors to the jaws and oral cavity account for 1% to 2% of all oral cancers. We report the clinical characteristics of the tumors in 11 patients among a total of 697 cases of oral cancer treated in the Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyushu University Hospital from 1985 through 2010. At the first visit, 9 of the 11 patients had a history of primary tumor, while the primary cancer sites were uncertain in the other 2 patients. Six of the 9 patients had recurrence or metastasis of their primary tumors, and in the other 3 patients tumor spread was controlled. The tumor was detected in mandibular and maxillary bones in 9 patients and 2 patients, respectively. Ten of the 11 patients had metastases in the molar region. Five of the 8 patients with mandibular molar metastasis had symptoms of hypoesthesia in the lower lips and chin. Seven of the 11 cases were adenocarcinoma. Regardless of treatment such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, alone or combined, all patients had poor outcomes, and the average survival time from the first visit was 3.2 months.