Zygomatic metastasis from breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pathology

Background:

• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, with an 11% lifetime risk in the US.
• Metastases to the maxillofacial (MF) region are rare (1% of MF malignancies), often indicating a poor prognosis.
• Common MF sites for metastasis include the mandible, maxilla, and salivary glands; the zygoma is an exceptionally rare site.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document a unique case of breast cancer metastasis to the zygomatic bone.
• To contribute to the understanding of atypical metastatic patterns of breast cancer in the head and neck region.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a solitary mass in the right zygoma.
• Histopathological examination confirmed metastasis from breast cancer.

Main Results:

• A solitary mass in the right zygoma was diagnosed as breast cancer metastasis.
• This represents the first reported case of breast cancer metastasis specifically to the malar bone (zygoma).
• Literature review identified only four other cases of metastasis to the zygomatic complex from other primary cancers (lung, rectum, liver, uterine).

Conclusions:

• The zygomatic bone is an extremely rare site for breast cancer metastasis.
• This case expands the known spectrum of atypical metastatic locations for breast cancer in the maxillofacial region.
• Awareness of such unusual presentations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of metastatic breast cancer.