Oral and maxillofacial metastatic tumors: a retrospective survey of Iranian patients

Background and aim:The metastatic tumors have been detected after recognizing of primary cancer, usually. Theoral region is an uncommon site for metastatic tumor, probably; but, it can be the first sign ofprimary cancer. The present information around oral and maxillofacial metastatic tumors andtheir primary origins are limited for Iranian patients. Hence, this study is aimed to evaluationof these tumors frequencies at Imam Khomeini Cancer Institute between 2001 and 2011.Materials and Methods:The present study was conduced at Imam Khomeini Cancer Institute , Tehran University ofMedical sciences. All medical records of patients with history of oral and maxillofacialtumors between 2001 and 2011 were evaluated and the essential information were extractedand analyzed, precisely.Results:86 (0.5%) cases of oral and maxillofacial metastatic tumors including 45 (52.3%) males and41 (47.7%) females, had been recorded from all 16232 registered cancers. Pain, swelling ofneck, oral mucosa ulcer and dryness were reported as the most common chief complains. Themost common types of cancers were Squamous cell carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma andFolicular carcinoma, respectively. The most common metastatic sites were neck nodularlymph nodes, scalp, Parothid gland, Mandibule and Larynx, respectively. The most commonsites of primary tumors were Thyroid gland, Breast, Parothid gland and scalp, respectively.Also, the most common sites of primary tumor were Thyroid gland and Breast for female andThyroid and Parothid gland for males.Conclusion:Metastatic oral and maxillofacial lesions are rare. Carcinoma type cancers have the mostfrequencies and Pain, swelling of neck, oral mucosa ulcer and dryness are the most commonsigns. In view of these cases it can be said that meticulous work-up of oral and maxillofaciallesions suspected of being metastatic, may be life saving or extend the patient’s survivalperiod.