[An autopsy case of maxillary cancer representing carcinomatosis of the bone]

A 51-year-old man was admitted to our Otorhinolaryngological Clinic on November 18, 1980, complaining of a nasal blockage. A biopsy specimen from the left maxillary sinus resulted in a diagnosis of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. About a year after left maxillectomy, he presented with widespread skeletal metastasis and severe anemia. On August 25, 1982, he died of pneumonia. On autopsy, generalized bone metastasis was found; there was no local recurrence and only minimal pulmonary metastasis. Although there are some maxillary cancer cases with restricted bone metastasis, diffuse carcinomatosis of the bone, as seen in this case, is rare. We also present a review of similar cases.