Radiographic manifestations of a lung carcinoma with metastases to the anterior maxilla

Radiographic examination of the facial bones frequently reveals osteolytic and osteoblastic changes. A case of undifferentiated large-cell carcinoma of the lung with metastasis to the anterior maxilla is reported. Intraoral dental radiographs revealed an ill-defined lytic area in the left anterior maxilla. The periphery of the lesion revealed saberlike extensions of bone extending into the lytic defect. Cytologic and biopsy studies of the oral mucosa led to identification of the tumor as an undifferentiated large-cell carcinoma of the lung.