title: Metastatic Tumours to the Oral Cavity: Report of Three Cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic tumours to the oral cavity from distant organs are uncommon and represent approximately 1 - 3% of all oral malignancies. Such metastases can occur to the bone or to the oral soft tissues. Almost any malignancy from any site is capable of metastasis to the oral cavity and a wide variety of tumours have been reported to spread to the mouth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Careful examination of the oral cavity and a high degree of clinical suspicion as well as a multidisciplinary approach are suggested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this article we present three patients, a female and two males with metastatic tumours to the oral cavity, who were referred to our Department. The primary tumours were invasive lobular breast carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metastases to the oral cavity are quite uncommon among population. They usually present with symptoms similar to odontogenic infections and benign tumours, causing a delayed diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Kalaitsidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Astreidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kontos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Lazaridou
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Bourlidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Domniki K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gerasimidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Natalia P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Vladika
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.
authors.forename: Doxa L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Mangoudi
keywords: adenocarcinoma; breast carcinoma; oral cancer; small cell lung carcinoma