Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma to the Condyle: An Unusual Case Report
Malignant tumors of the jawbones and metastatic tumors to the jaw are rare, while tumors metastasizing to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are even rarer. This report presents a case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma to the condyle of the TMJ in a patient with clinical symptoms mimicking TMJ dysfunction. The patient, a 55-year-old Thai male, was referred to the dentist for clarification of left TMJ pain. He was in good physical condition and reported no history of systemic diseases. He had been infected with viral hepatitis B before and had recovered well. CT images revealed a severe osteolytic lesion associated with a large soft tissue mass at the left condyle. The final diagnosis after microscopic examination was a metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. His condition was managed with chemotherapy but he ultimately passed away 6 months later. The diagnosis of the metastatic lesion in this patient was challenging as the clinical signs and symptoms of some systemic diseases mimic those of TMJ dysfunction.
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