Gingival Metastasis From a Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Case Report

Abstract

Background: Metastatic tumors to the oral cavity are rare, representing about 1% of oral tumors, and they affect jaws more often than the oral soft tissues. Methods: Fifteen cases of metastases to the jaw bones from thyroid carcinoma were found in a recent review, with no cases located in the oral mucosa. Results: The authors describe the first cases of gingival metastasis from a thyroid medullary carcinoma. Conclusions: Periodontists must recognize oral soft tissue metastases because they can be the first sign of an undiscovered malignancy, and they can be easily mistaken with several different benign lesions. J Periodontol 2000;71:112‐116.