Metastatic disease to the condyle: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Metastatic lesions to the oral cavity are rare, accounting for only 1–8% of all oral malignancies, and involvement of mandibular condyle is a rare phenomenon. The present literature review found only 99 cases reported to date (including the present case). There has been only one documented case of condylar metastatic carcinoma from the bladder. We report the second case of metastasis to the mandibular condyle from a known primary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Condylar metastasis can present with non-specific TMJ dysfunction symptoms and can be misdiagnosed. Radiographic findings are typically non-specific, and the differential diagnosis should include osteomyelitis, primary malignant tumors, and metastatic spread. Either a fine needle aspiration or biopsy should be performed to obtain a histopathological diagnosis. Furthermore, metastasis to the condyle can be the first indication of an undiscovered distant primary tumor, making timely evaluation and management crucial from an oncologic perspective.