Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Gingiva

A 77-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of denture sores at the left mandibular gingiva. She had no smoking history or alcohol use. Intraoral examination showed a cauliflower-like, 28 × 20 mm mass on the left mandibular gingiva without induration. The edentulous ridge was extensively resorbed. Extraoral examination showed no numbness of lower lip and cervical lymphadenopathy. Computed tomography (CT) showed superficial cortical bone erosion beneath the mass and proximity to the inferior alveolar canal. 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (FDG-PET/CT) showed increased uptake in the left mandibular region and left submandibular lymph nodes. An incisional biopsy was performed, and she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)(cT2N1M0, stage 2). She underwent segmental mandibulectomy, selective neck dissection, and immediate reconstruction under general anesthesia. At the 2 years follow-up, she remained free of disease.