PURPOSE: Malignant tumors of the parotid gland are very rare. Until now there have only been a few reported cases of patients with distant metastasis of breast cancer in the parotid gland. This case shows the rarity of the disease. METHODS: This case is about a 74-year-old woman with an invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast. The initial diagnosis was made four years ago. The operation which was done was a quadrantectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. It was followed by radiotherapy of the breast. The recommended chemotherapy was declined by the patient. RESULTS: Three years after the initial diagnosis of lobular invasive breast cancer a nodular change in the cicatrice of the mastectomy occurred. The patient also had a contralateral peripheral facial paralysis, caused by a distant metastasis in the right parotid gland. CONCLUSIONS: When there is a tumor in the parotid gland and a histological classified adenocarcinoma is found, the differential diagnosis of breast cancer metastasis should be considered.
PURPOSE:Malignant tumors of the parotid gland are very rare. Until now there have only been a few reported cases of patients with distant metastasis of breast cancer in the parotid gland. This case shows the rarity of the disease. METHODS: This case is about a 74-year-old woman with an invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast. The initial diagnosis was made four years ago. The operation which was done was a quadrantectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. It was followed by radiotherapy of the breast. The recommended chemotherapy was declined by the patient. RESULTS: Three years after the initial diagnosis of lobular invasive breast cancer a nodular change in the cicatrice of the mastectomy occurred. The patient also had a contralateral peripheral facial paralysis, caused by a distant metastasis in the right parotid gland. CONCLUSIONS: When there is a tumor in the parotid gland and a histological classified adenocarcinoma is found, the differential diagnosis of breast cancer metastasis should be considered.