[Maxillofacial metastasis of a cholangiocarcinoma]

A 64-year-old woman with a history of cholangiocarcinoma, presented with painful cheek-swelling and ulcerated lesion of the lower jaw. There were lytic bone lesions of the mandible. Histological examination revealed cholangiocarcinoma metastasis. Surgery was impossible because of the primitive tumor's extension. The patient then received palliative treatment with radiotherapy - and chemotherapy. She died 13 months after the initial diagnosis.

Maxillofacial metastasis generally occur in the mandible. Although adenocarcinomas are often observed, cholangiocarcinoma has never been reported as maxillofacial metastasis. The prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma is bad because of a usually late diagnosis.