Metastasis of mesothelioma to the maxillary gingiva

Abstract

Malignant mesothelioma predominantly arises from the serosal surfaces of the pleural or peritoneal cavity. There is currently no effective standard treatment for mesothelioma and the prognosis for patients is poor; the majority of patients with malignant mesothelioma succumb between 12 and 17 months following diagnosis. The association of all forms of malignant mesothelioma with asbestos exposure has been well documented. However, metastasis to the oral gingiva is rare, as only four cases have previously been reported; two cases of metastasis to the tongue and four cases to the jaw bone. In the current report, the case of a 62-year-old male with metastatic mesothelioma is presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the metastasis of this type of neoplasm to the maxillary gingiva.