Odontoid fractures in metastatic breast carcinoma

Six cases of odontoid fracture were recognized in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast. The clinical findings, radiographic diagnosis, and possible neurological sequelae are discussed. While pathologic long bone fractures are often aggressively treated, pathologic odontoid fractures are frequently not recognized despite their prognostic significance. Since patients with osseous metastasis from breast carcinoma may live for many months and undergo general anesthetic procedures that require neck manipulation, its recognition is clinically important.