Maxillofacial metastases: a retrospective review of one institution's 15-year experience.
OBJECTIVE
Metastasis to the maxillofacial region is a rare occurrence. In our retrospective study of patients with metastasis to the maxillofacial region, the subjects were evaluated to define the clinical behavior patterns in response to the treatment given.


METHODS
A retrospective record review during a 15-year period (1990 to 2005) was conducted. The patients were selected for inclusion in the present study if they had histologically confirmed maxillofacial metastases.


RESULTS
In our retrospective study, during the 15-year period, 1,221 new patients with maxillofacial/oral cancer were seen and evaluated. Of these 1,221 patients, 26 (16 men and 10 women) were identified as having a histologically confirmed metastasis to the maxillofacial region, for an incidence of 2.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with metastasis to the maxillofacial region are often deemed to not be surgical candidates because of the extensive nature of the metastatic disease. We believe that surgical intervention plays a beneficial role in improving quality of life in a properly selected group of patients with metastasis to the maxillofacial region. In our case series, surgery was performed in about 50% of the patients, and palliation and radiotherapy were the most commonly used modalities.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale-Davie, FL 33314-7796, USA.
Shawn A
SA
McClure
Reza
R
Movahed
Andrew
A
Salama
Robert A
RA
Ord
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome