Perimandibular metastasis of rectal cancer: A case report

Introduction. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and metastatic disease is an important and frequent clinical problem. Metastases in the oral and maxillofacial region are rare, comprising 1-2% of all malignant lesions, and clinically resemble common benign conditions. Case report. A 59-year-old woman diagnosed with rectal cancer developed perimandibular lesion as a first sign of metastatic process. Metastasis manifested clinically during the curative intent treatment of rectal cancer (preoperative chemo-irradiation) as a rapidly growing tumefaction close to the mandible angle. After the biopsy and histopathological examination of the lesion that clinically resembled abscess, metastasis of rectal cancer was diagnosed. Incidentally, a cerebral metastasis was diagnosed as well. Although it was oligometastatic rectal cancer, surgical treatment was not indicated due to extensive infiltrative characteristics of the perimandibular lesion. The patient was treated with chemotherapy, with good clinical response. Biological therapy was not available at that moment. Cerebral metastasis was treated with stereotactic neuroradiosurgery with gamma knife. Unfortunately, the patient died from cerebrovascular insult. Conclusion. Lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region may be the first manifestation of metastatic disease. Since early diagnosis of metastatic process has prognostic implications, any new formation in the oral and maxillofacial region in a patient with colorectal cancer requires cautious observation and histological examination.