Oral squamous cell carcinoma associated with symphyseal dental implants: an unusual case report

The development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) around dental implants is an uncommon pathological manifestation. This case report describes a patient with history of oral lichen planus (OLP) and previous SCCa of the gingiva who developed SCCa adjacent to symphyseal implants.

An 81-year-old edentulous woman with history of OLP developed an in situ SCCa on the left mandibular edentulous ridge. One of the authors, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, performed a marginal mandibular resection of the lesion. Functional oral rehabilitation was achieved by means of two endosseous symphyseal implants. Three years after the patient underwent implant-supported reconstruction, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon detected an exophytic mass adjacent to the right implant and diagnosed it as recurrent SCCa. Two of the authors performed a marginal mandibular resection. One year later, the patient developed a recurrence over the resected area, requiring segmental mandibulectomy.

This case report demonstrates that recurrent primary malignancy can masquerade as benign peri-implant complications. A high degree of vigilance is required in the follow-up of patients with previous cancer or premalignant lesions.