Implications of malignant lymphoma on a periapical mandibular lesion

A patient who sought treatment complained of numbness. A periapical radiolucency had been observed some weeks earlier. He was subsequently treated with endodontic therapy. When he later developed soft-tissue swelling, he was treated with antibiotics. The treatment modalities were consistent with infection control. However, review of the patient's medical history of malignancy would have alerted the dentist to a possible case of metastasis.