Breast carcinoma metastatic to paranasal sinuses.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer affects 150,000 women a year in the United States. Breast carcinoma that is metastatic to the paranasal sinus (PNS) is rare. A patient with breast cancer treated recently at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center developed bilateral metastasis to the ethmoid sinuses. This case prompted a review of the incidence of this disease, its treatment, and outcome.

METHODS

A review of the published reports dating back to 1939 of breast carcinoma that was metastatic to the PNS was performed. In addition, autopsy series in the breast oncology literature were reviewed for cases of breast carcinoma that was metastatic to the PNS.

RESULTS

From this review, we identified only eight cases of breast carcinoma that was metastatic to the PNS. All cases were unilateral and presented as mass lesions. Despite treatment, all patients died soon after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that breast carcinoma metastatic to the PNS is rare and has been uniformly fatal because, as disseminated disease, it does not respond well to conventional systemic therapies.