Esophageal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the maxilla

Although metastatic malignant lesions in the maxilla are exceedingly rare, case reports of such lesions do appear occasionally in the literature. This article describes the clinical and pathologic features of an esophageal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the maxilla. The initial maxillary appearance of the tumor mimicked primary dental pathosis and, in addition, was the presenting sign of malignant disease in the patient. The relevant literature is reviewed, and the processes by which metastases form are discussed.