Aggressive Oral Carcinoma Cuniculatum Presenting with Recurrence and Metastasis: A Case Report

Oral carcinoma cuniculatum (OCC) is an uncommon and distinctive variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma affecting the oral cavity. It commonly arises from the skin although it can originate from various mucosal surfaces including oral mucosa. OCC is locally aggressive and destroys the underlying bone. Published literature provides description on as few as thirty cases of OCC involving the mandible and not much information is available leading to misdiagnosis of this condition. Very few cases are reported to have recurrences and they rarely exhibit metastasis tendency. Due to availability of only limited data on OCC, ongoing research aims to enhance understanding, refine diagnostic criteria, and explore targeted treatment modalities for this rare form of oral cancer. With a tendency for locally aggressive behavior and a predilection for the mandibular region, management of OCC requires a multidisciplinary approach. This report depicts a case of oral carcinoma cuniculatum of mandible in a 63-year-old female with an overview of its clinical characteristics, radiological and histopathological features, and challenges in diagnosis and management. This rare case report highlights the aggressive nature of this pathology as it had a tendency for recurrence and regional metastasis.