Metastatic carcinoma to the mandible that mimicked pulpal/periodontal disease.
An oral cavity metastasis from a poorly differentiated carcinoma, presumed to have originated in the pancreas, mimicked a dental abscess. An additional metastasis to the lung caused a postobstructive lobar pneumonia that masked the lesion, thereby delaying the diagnosis of malignancy. This case report illustrates how the clinical manifestations of a widely disseminated neoplasm led to initial medical confusion and subsequent dental misdiagnosis, and serves to caution of a possible pitfall in the dental evaluation of endodontic lesions.
Selden
H S
HS
General Practice Residency Program, Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
Manhoff
D T
DT
Hatges
N A
NA
Michel
R C
RC
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014098:Toothache / Q000209:etiology