A Rare Occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis to the Mandible: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer globally, with 626,000 new cases per year, and is the third leading cause of global cancer-related mortality, with 598,000 deaths per year. In the United States, HCC is the ninth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. From 2001 through 2006, 48,596 cases of HCC were reported in the United States according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence f HCC is estimated to be 3 per 100,000 individuals, ith an expectation for increasing numbers in comng years because of the higher incidence of hepaitis C infection during the 1960s through the 990s. Distant metastasis has been reported in 10% to 20% of patients with HCC. Metastatic disease to the orofacial region, however, is a rare occurrence. The objective of this article was to review the relevant body of literature and report a clinical case of metastatic disease to the mandible as the initial presenting symptom of HCC in a 72-year-old man.