Coincident facial paralysis and serous otitis media in metastatic breast disease

Carcinoma of the breast is a common disorder. Metastatic breast carcinoma was found to be the underlying cause in two women who presented with serous otitis and facial palsy. Bone scan was abnormal in both patients, one of whom had normal plain films and CT scan. Literature search reveals nine similar cases, in two of which the degree of facial paralysis fluctuated as it did also in the two cases reported here.