Metastatic cancer presenting as TMD. A case report.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Dental professionals should recognize that facial pain can stem from various non-dental pathologies.
• Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and odontogenic pain are common considerations for jaw pain.
• Previous cancer history, such as prostate cancer, requires ongoing patient monitoring.

Observation:

• A 66-year-old patient presented with unilateral jaw pain, initially suspected to be TMD.
• The patient had a history of successfully treated prostate cancer.
• Imaging revealed metastatic lesions in the zygoma, infratemporal fossa, maxilla, and brain.

Findings:

• Facial pain was attributed to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, not prostate cancer.
• The primary tumor originated from an unknown site outside the prostate.
• Metastases presented in cranial and facial bones, mimicking TMD or dental pain.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of a broad differential diagnosis for facial pain in dental practice.
• Underscores the need for collaboration between dentistry, oncology, and radiology for complex cases.
• Emphasizes that metastatic disease can present with atypical symptoms in the head and neck region.