Gingival and mandibular metastases from rectal adenocarcinoma: case report and 20 year review of the english literature.

Gingival metastases from non-oral malignancies are very uncommon. The case is presented of a man with rectal adenocarcinoma, whose first clinical evidence of metastatic disease was a gingival metastasis. Although the prognosis of patients with gingival metastases is felt to be poor, prompt initiation of appropriate therapy may afford significant palliation. A 20-year literature review of uncommon metastatic sites for rectal adenocarcinoma and non-oral malignancies which can metastasize to gingiva is briefly presented. Gingival metastasis should be included in the differential diagnosis of a gingival lesion in a patient with prior or current malignancy.