We report a rare case of breast carcinoma metastatic to the ethmoid sinus. An 83-year-old female patient with an intraductal breast carcinoma presented the first symptoms of metastasis to the paranasal sinuses four years after radical mastectomy and axillary node dissection. A review of the literature revealed that only three such cases have been described so far. Symptoms and imaging results are not specific and usually similar to those of primary neoplasms in this region. This case underlines the importance of suspecting a metastasis in patients with a history of malignancy.
RiceD.H.: General guidelines. In: Current concepts in head and neck cancer, RiceD.H., SpiroR.H. (eds), 1–15, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, 1989.
2.
MacbethR.: Malignant diseases of the paranasal sinuses.J Laryngol Otol, 79: 591–612, 1965.
3.
ElnerA., KochH.: Combined radiological and surgical therapy of cancer of the ethmoid.Acta Otolaryngol, 78: 270–276, 1974.
4.
NelsonE.G., GoldmanM.E., HemmatiM.: Metastatic carcinoma of the ethmoid sinus.Otolaringol Head Neck, 103: 120–123, 1990.
5.
BatsonO.V.: The function of the vertebral veins and their role in the spread of metastasis.Ann Surg, 112: 138–149, 1988.
6.
NahumA.M., BaileyB.J.: Malignant tumors metastatic to the paranasal sinuses.Laryngoscope, 73: 972–983, 1963.
7.
WanamakerJ.R., KrausD.H., EliacharI., LavertuP.: Manifestation of metastatic breast carcinoma to the head and neck.Head Neck, 15: 257–262, 1993.
8.
AustinJ.R., KershiznekM.M., McGillD., AustinS.G.: Breast carcinoma metastatic to paranasal sinuses.Head Neck, 17: 161–165, 1995.
9.
Garcia TrigueroD., Molina QuirosC., Sanz FernandezR.: Ethmoid metastasis of primary breast tumor.Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp, 49: 163–164, 1998.
10.
DixonA.R., EliasI.O., ElstonC.W., BlarneyR.W.: A comparison of the clinical metastatic patterns of invasive lobular and ductal carcinomas of the breast.Br J Cancer, 63: 634–635, 1991.
11.
CifuentesN., PickremJ.W.: Metastasis from carcinoma of mammary gland: an autopsy study.J Surg Oncol, 11: 193–204, 1979.
12.
HarrisM., HowellA., ChrissohouM., SwindellR.C., HudsonM., SellwoodR.A.: A comparison of the metastatic pattern of infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast.Br J Cancer, 50: 23–38, 1984.
13.
BersteinJ.M., MontgomeryW.W., BaloghK.: Metastatic tumors to the maxilla, nose, and paranasal sinuses.Laryngoscope, 76: 621–650, 1966.
