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Case Reports
. 2025 Aug 26;17(8):e91065.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.91065. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Oral Metastasis as a Harbinger of Terminal Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case Study of Rare and Rapid Decline

Shehroz Aslam  1 , Nnenna M Onwumere  1 , Hamzah Akram  2 , Rida Riaz  3 , Aaliya Burza  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Oral Metastasis as a Harbinger of Terminal Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case Study of Rare and Rapid Decline

Shehroz Aslam et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the United States (U.S), with adenocarcinoma representing the most predominant subtype. Metastasis to the oral cavity from lung adenocarcinoma is exceedingly rare. This case report describes a patient with lung adenocarcinoma who developed oral metastases, presenting as exophytic lesions along the right maxillary and left mandibular alveolar ridges. The prognostic implications of such metastases are not well-reported in the literature due to the limited number of cases. This case highlights the crucial importance of timely evaluation of oral lesions in patients with known malignancies to facilitate early diagnosis, guide treatment, and improve prognostication and symptom management.

Keywords: lung cancer; metastatic lung adenocarcinoma; non-small cell lung cancer (nsclc); oral cavity metastases; oral metastasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Informed consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Right lower lobe mass and hilar left anterior descending (LAD) artery
A) Right lower lobe necrotic mass measuring 5.1 x 5.5 cm (blue arrow), B) Right hilar lymphadenopathy (blue arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2. CT scan showing right lung and adrenal masses
A) Right lower lobe necrotic mass (blue arrow), B) Right and left adrenal masses (blue arrows)
Figure 3
Figure 3. Right hilar lymph node histopathology showing positivity for MCK and TTF-1
A) Right hilar lymph node (HE, x40), B) Right hilar lymph node positive for MCK stain, C) Right hilar lymph node positive for TTF-1
Figure 4
Figure 4. Bleeding mass in the maxillomandibular alveolar ridges.
A) Right maxillary alveolar ridge mass, B) Left mandibular alveolar ridge mass
Figure 5
Figure 5. CT images showing alveolar masses and submental LN
A) Left lower alveolus mass (blue arrow), B) Right upper alveolus mass (blue arrow), C) Right submental lymph node (blue arrow)
Figure 6
Figure 6. Histopathology of the submental lymph node and alveolus mass
A) Right submental lymph node HE, x 40, B) Right submental lymph node showing TTF1 positivity, C) Left lower alveolus mass HE, x 40, D) Left lower alveolus mass showing TTF1 positivity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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