Pathway of Metastatic Tumors to the Oral Cavity

Metastasis is a multistep process and involves cascade of events such as detachment from the primary site, invasion, intravasation, transport and circulation, extravasation and finally bone degradation and bone formation. Metastatic tumors of the oral cavity are rare, representing about 1% of oral malignancies. In 25% of cases, oral metastasis indicates the first sign of metastatic spread and in 23% it may be the first evidence of dissemination of malignancy from its primary site. They affect the jaws much more frequently than the soft tissues. In this review, we have highlighted the various predisposing factors and propose a hypothetical pathway of metastasis for the most common malignancies involving the different areas of the body including the oral cavity.