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CASE REPORT: TMJ-like symptoms as first sign of a tumorous disease. Metastasis as an uncommon origin of the symptoms (in German).
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INTRODUCTION: Metastatic lesions make up approximately 1% of all oral cancers.A comparatively rare location is the temporomandibular joint.Leading symptoms can be misdirecting, especially in the beginning,because they are frequently similar or even identical to those occurring in temporomandibular disorders. Therefore it can be quite difficult to confirm the diagnosis of a TMJ metastasis.delayed initiation of therapy and thus a poor prognosis are often the results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the literature from 1954 to 2013 was realized and the published cases between 1954 and January 2013 were evaluated.The results were analyzed according to gender distribution, age,first symptoms, location of the primary tumor, as well as to the occurrence of malignancies in the patients' medical history. RESULTS: The research identified sixty-six patients. Tumors of the lung and breast were the main starting points of the metastatic spread. The histopathological workup showed above all the diagnosis of an adenocarcinoma. In all of the cases, unspecific symptoms led to the diagnosis of a metastatic disease. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: In the case of nonspecific TMJ affection, diagnostics should consider less-frequent diagnoses, such as the presence of metastasis.A clinical differentiation by additional symptoms like swelling, unexplained weight loss and night sweats, as well as a tumor disease in the past or failure of conservative treatment can provide additional indications. If there is reasonable suspicion,extended medical imaging and diagnostic measures must be performed to allow early treatment initiation and a better prognosis.