Metastatic breast cancer of the oral cavity

Am J Otolaryngol. 2005 Jul-Aug;26(4):279-81. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2005.01.008.

Abstract

Objective: To present a rare case of breast carcinoma initially presenting as an oral cavity mass.

Study design: Case report with review of the literature.

Results: A case is presented of a postmenopausal woman with a remote history of treated breast carcinoma who was declared disease-free 2 years before presentation. She presented with an enlarging vestibule mass consistent with metastatic breast carcinoma. Subsequent investigations revealed widely metastatic disease for which the patient was referred for palliative chemotherapy.

Conclusions: Metastatic disease to the oral cavity represents only 1% of all oral cavity malignancies. A high index of clinical suspicion is necessary when evaluating patients with a history of non-head and neck carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Mouth Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / surgery
  • Palliative Care
  • Postmenopause