Metastasis to the oral and maxillofacial region: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this systematic review was to incorporate the information published on metastatic lesions in the in the oral and maxillofacial region into a comprehensive analysis of their demographic, clinical, and imaginological features and survival rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An electronic search was undertaken in the subsequent databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and LILACS. All papers included were case reports or case series. Absolute and relative frequencies were obtained by descriptive analysis. Overall survival was defined by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

This systematic review identified 217 studies from 33 countries, comprising 348 cases. Male individuals were more affected (n = 199/57.68%) in the 5th to 7th decades of life. The most usual primary site was the lung in men (n = 49/14.08%) and the breast in women (n = 40/11.49%). Jawbones were affected in 183 cases (53.19%), with the posterior mandible (n = 96/66.66%) representing the preferred site. In soft tissues, the gingiva (n = 80/23.25%) was more affected. Clinical presentation was a nodular mass with or without ulceration (n = 280/85.89%). Imaginological examinations revealed radiolucent/hypodense lesions (n = 115/59.28%). The mean survival time was eight months.

CONCLUSION

Despite the rare occurrence of metastatic lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region, the current systematic review offers substantial data that could assist clinicians and surgeons.