Pancreatic Carcinoma Metastatic to the Gingiva

Metastatic tumors to the oral cavity are uncommon, representing approximately 1% of all cases of oral malignant lesions even when a metastatic disease is present. The 53-year-old female is presented complaining of abdominal pain, weight loss, and a loose stool recurring not more than three times per day. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed a retroperitoneal mass expanding along the body of the pancreas. Colonoscopy and gastroscopy with a gastric mucosa biopsy showed a normal result. After laparoscopic surgery, the primary site of adenocarcinoma was not confirmed. The patient was referred to the Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic with pain, swelling, and occasional bleeding around the lower right second mollar. Immunohistochemicaly, the tumor cells were positive for Cytokeratin (CK) 19, Cytokeratin (CK) 7, and homebox protein (CDX-2), which are highly sensitive markers of pancreatobiliar cancer. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma. This report describes a rare metastasis of malignant pancreatic tumor to the lower right gingiva and highlights the importance of immunohistochemical examination and how it helped identify both the origin and the nature of gingival neoplasm.

Retrospective Study of Infants who Visited Pediatric Dentistry

The first dental visit is recommended at the time of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age. However, even before the age of 1, children can visit the dental hospital for various reasons. The purpose of this study was to analyze the reasons for the dental visit of infant. From January 2006 to December 2015, medical records of infants who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of Kyung Hee University were analyzed. The total number of patients was 419 (238 males and 181 females). The reasons for the dental visits were trauma (47.5%), natal/neonatal tooth (19.8%), dental caries (8.1%), teething problem (4.3%), abnormal frenum (3.6%), soft tissue swelling (3.6%), Bohn’s nodule (3.3%), cleft lip and palate (2.9%), gingival neoplasm (1.9%), tongue ulceration (1.7%), oral examination (1.4%), enamel hypoplasia (1.2%) and abnormal temporomandibular joint sound (0.7%). According to this study, there were various oral diseases that could occur in infants. Since infants are usually cared by caregivers, pediatricians, and obstetricians, education of oral diseases of infants is needed to manage the oral symptoms properly.