Incidence of bone metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa

Abstract

Aim: This retrospective study was performed to show the incidence of bone metastasis from carcinoma of the buccal mucosa. Head and neck cancer is a leading health problem in India due to an increased incidence of tobacco use and poor oral hygiene. Squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa is common and roughly 2.5% of all malignancies that present to our center. Moreover, most patients present at late stages (III/IV) and consequently, survival rates are low. Bone metastasis in advanced cases of such carcinomas is rarely reported worldwide but is more prominent in parts of India.

Methods: Here, we present a series of patients diagnosed with buccal mucosa carcinomas within the past 5 years that also demonstrated bone metastases.

Results: These patients were young, with a history of tobacco chewing with locally advanced disease and bone metastases that developed within one year of diagnosis. Flat bones and vertebrae were mainly involved and the survival was short after diagnosis of metastasis despite treatment with local radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The cause of such frequent metastases cannot be proved but subclinical seeding of malignant cells before the eradication of the primary tumor is probable contributory with advanced local and nodal disease with high grade tumor.

Conclusion: A pretreatment bone scan should be performed in locoregionally advanced buccal mucosa carcinomas at the time of diagnosis to define the treatment plan.

Keywords

Bone metastases / buccal mucosa / squamous cell carcinoma

References

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