Colorectal adenocarcinoma metastasizing to the oral mucosa of the upper jaw

Abstract

Introduction. Metastases to the oral cavity are uncommon, accounting for only 1% of all oral malignant tumors. When they occur they mostly originate from primary tumors of the lungs, kidney, breast and prostate. Oral metastases from the primary colorectal carcinoma are much more infrequent. Case Outline. We present an unusual case of a 78-year-old man with a soft tissue oral metastasis originating from the primary colorectal carcinoma. The patient was referred to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery with an intraoral mass on the right side of the maxilla. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical analysis. Conclusion. Oral metastases occur rarely and often can mimic much more common benign lesions, therefore they should be considered as a possibility in a differential diagnosis.