A case of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with gingival metastasis and a review of the literature

This report describes a rare case of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) with metastasis to the mandibular gingiva in an 83-year-old Japanese woman and is accompanied by a review of the literature. The present patient had a history of pleomorphic carcinoma in the right upper lobe of the lung and was under post-treatment follow-up. Clinical examination on the first presentation to our hospital found only a 3-mm aphtha in the right lower lip, but 9 days later, a 30-mm mass was found in the gingiva around right mandibular canine and premolar. In the tumor biopsy, the present case was diagnosed as metastasis of PPC. After admission, concomitant chemoradiotherapy was given, and tumor pedicle ligation was performed. The tumor completely resolved upon completion of irradiation. However, after subsequent surgery for small bowel metastasis, the patient's general condition worsened and the patient died 69 days after the first presentation. To the best of our knowledge, all reported cases of oral metastasis of PPC have been from Japan and total 5 cases including the present case. Therefore, the present case can be considered very rare.