Metastatic disease to the mandible

Metastatic lesions to the mandible are rare, comprising less than 1% of all malignancies. Twenty-two cases of metastatic disease to the mandible were seen from 1938 to 1985. The records of 17 cases were available for detailed review. The age range was from 27 to 80 years with a female to male ratio of 12 to 5. A mandibular or paramandibular mass or swelling was the most common presenting sign. Three patients presented with mandibular metastasis prior to the discovery of the primary tumor. In the other 14 patients, the mandibular lesion appeared from 2 months to 20 years following discovery of the primary tumor. The mandibular lesion was the initial sign of distant metastatic disease in 11 of the 17 patients. Breast, lung, and colon cancer were the most common primary tumors. When presented with an isolated mandibular mass, a high index of suspicion is necessary to make the diagnosis of metastatic disease. Since plain x-rays may initially be normal, technetium or CT scan may be necessary to demonstrate osseous destruction. Inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia should be considered an indication of tumor until proven otherwise. Treatment is often of a palliative nature because of the presence of widespread metastatic disease; however, surgical resection may be considered in the rare patient with a well-documented, solitary mandibular metastasis.