Malignant lesions presenting as symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction

Three cases of carcinoma, seen in a head/neck pain management practice during the past 2 years and presenting as craniomandibular dysfunction symptoms, are reported. Clinicians should always consider a differential diagnosis because of the variety of potential causes of the symptoms presented by the patient. These symptoms act as clues to help to differentiate between a routine or "evil" process. The need for imaging and remaining, when the clinical symptoms do not correlate with the clinical examination through established guidelines for craniomandibular dysfunction or head/neck pain, is of paramount importance.