Background: Metastases of internal tumors to the oral cavity are unusual and involve in most cases maxilla and mandible. Metastases to the gingival soft tissue are extremely rare.
Objective: To report a case of gingival metastasis from undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung.
Methods: The lesion was removed and hematoxylin and eosin sections were performed. Immunohistochemical investigations were performed with a standard three-step immunoperoxidase technique on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections using anti-CEA, anti-S-100, HMB45, and anti-LCA antibodies.
Results: Based on clinicopathologic findings, a diagnosis of metastasis from undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung was established. Further investigations revealed a primary undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung.
Conclusion: Metastasis from internal neoplasms should be considered among other differential diagnoses in the evaluation of gingival tumors. In the present case, onset of oral lesion preceded detection of the primary lung tumor. Complete screening of the patient should therefore follow a diagnosis of gingival neoplasm of unknown origin.