title: Pterygopalatine fossa metastasis with severe trigeminal neuralgia from neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast.
abstract: A 57-year-old woman presented to our department with a 2-month history of pain and paresthesia on the left side of the face 12 years after having undergone surgery for breast cancer. We performed an endoscopic biopsy and diagnosed metastatic breast cancer to the pterygopalatine fossa. There has been no recurrence for two years since the metastatic tumor was treated by radiation therapy. A literature search shows only one case of metastatic breast cancer with severe trigeminal neuralgia located in the V2 division of the trigeminal nerve area. Metastatic disease should be considered part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with trigeminal neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Sanraku Hospital, Kandasurugadai 2-5, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0622, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Shimoshizu 564-1, Sakura, Chiba 285-8741, Japan. Electronic address: taroyokomanya48@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takanami
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Shimoshizu 564-1, Sakura, Chiba 285-8741, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Shimoshizu 564-1, Sakura, Chiba 285-8741, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D056739:Pterygopalatine Fossa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Neuroendocrine carcinoma; Pterygopalatine fossa; Trigeminal neuralgia