Metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the gingiva mimicking a hyperplastic lesion. Case report.

An unusual case of metastatic cell carcinoma in the gingiva, without roentgenographic evidence of underlying bone involvement, is described. The tumor had the clinical appearance of a pyogenic granuloma and peripheral giant cell granuloma. Histologic sections and the pertinent history revealed the tumor to be a metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Review of the literature reveals that metastatic lesions to the gingiva are rare, but when they occur they tend to mimic clinically the common localized hyperplastic lesions of the gingiva.