Objectives: To evaluate the significance of maxillary bone invasion by gingival carcinoma as an indicator of cervical metastasis. Methods: Twenty-one patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper gingiva were included in the study. The extent of bone invasion was assessed by dental CT. Six patients had cervical metastases at the initial examination and eight more developed them during the 2-year follow-up period. The relationship of cervical metastases with age and gender of these patients, as well as with the size of the lesion and extent of bone invasion, was examined by logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results: There was a significant relationship between the presence of bone invasion and the presence of cervical metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusions: Maxillary bone invasion is an indicator of cervical metastasis in gingival carcinoma.

Ogura I, et al. Imaging Sci Dent. 2019 Mar;49(1):53-58. https://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2019.49.1.53