Lung Adenocarcinoma with Gingival Metastasis

Authors

• Imen Gargouri Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Benzarti Wafa Hergli Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Sana Aissa Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Samia Kanoun-Belajouza Radiotherapy Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Abdelaziz Hayouni Radiotherapy Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Abdelhamid Garrouche Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Ahmed Abdelghani Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
• Mohamed Benzarti Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia

wafa.benzarti@yahoo.fr

Keywords

Abstract

Gingival metastasis of lung cancer is uncommon. We report the case of an 82-year-old male smoker admitted to the pulmonology department with right pleural effusion. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed an invasive right hilar tumour, adherent to the superior vena cava, pulmonary artery, main right bronchus, mediastinal pleura and pericardium with lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the right lung. Pleural biopsy revealed pleural metastasis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, its primary lung origin being confirmed by immunohistochemistry. One month later, the patient developed an ulcerated polypoid gingival mass. Biopsy of this lesion showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma compatible with metastasis from the lung adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent irradiation of the gingival mass at a dose of 30 Gray, but his condition worsened rapidly and he was not fit for chemotherapy. He received palliative treatment and died 2 months after diagnosis of his metastatic lung cancer.