eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Oral Mucosa

Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity: Follow-up

Author: Abraham Hirshberg, MD, DMD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Coauthor(s): Amos Buchner, DMD, MSD, Chairman, Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Tel Aviv University School of Dental Medicine, Israel
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 28, 2008

Follow-up

Prognosis

  • Oral metastases usually are evidence of a widespread disease and indicate a grave prognosis.
  • The time from the appearance of the metastasis to death is several months.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Misdiagnosis of a metastatic lesion as a benign reactive lesion may delay diagnosis and treatment.
  • Metastatic tumors should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of benign-looking lesions in the oral cavity, especially in patients with a previous history of a malignant disease.
  • Biopsy is mandatory to establish an accurate diagnosis.
 


More on Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity

Overview: Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity
Treatment & Medication: Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity
Follow-up: Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity
Multimedia: Metastatic Neoplasms to the Oral Cavity
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

metastatic tumors to the oral cavity, metastatic tumors to the jaws, metastatic tumors to the oral mucosa, mouth cancer

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Abraham Hirshberg, MD, DMD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Abraham Hirshberg, MD, DMD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, International Association for Dental Research, and International Association of Oral Pathologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Amos Buchner, DMD, MSD, Chairman, Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Tel Aviv University School of Dental Medicine, Israel
Amos Buchner, DMD, MSD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, International Association for Dental Research, and International Association of Oral Pathologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Sungnack Lee, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea
Sungnack Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Dermatological Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS, Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Research Associates of Cincinnati
Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, and American Dental Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital
Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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