[Metastases of malignant tumor in the jaw. Analysis of 30 case reports].

30 metastases of malignant tumors in jaws were retrospectively studied. They occurred more often in women than in men (17 F/13 H). In 21 cases, the primitive cancer was known and had been treated 1 to 4 years before. In the other cases (9), the bone metastasis led to the discovery of a latent tumor. Clinical signs and symptoms included swelling, pain, loosening of teeth, labio-mental anaesthesia and rarely pathologic fracture. Radiologically, all but two patients had radiolucent lesion. These metastases almost always involved the mandible (95% of cases) and in that bone, most often molar area and angle. Histologically, the majority of lesions were adenocarcinomas from breast (33%) and alimentary canal (stomach, colon). Epidermoid bronchial carcinomas were seen in 5 cases and malignant melanomas in 2 cases. Only one sarcoma of this series was arising from a liposarcoma of the thigh. In all but one patients, evolution was quickly lethal.