Tonsillar and Parotid Gland Metastases of Breast Cancer: Two Cases and A Literature Review

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women. One in eight women is affected by this disease in her lifetime. Both parotid gland and tonsillar metastases of breast cancer are extremely rare. Here, we present two separate cases of parotid gland and tonsillar metastases of breast carcinoma mimicking second primary tumors. The patient having parotid gland metastasis had disseminated disease and received palliative chemotherapy and hormone therapy. The other patient who had tonsillar metastasis underwent surgery without significant morbidity. Surgical resection of isolated tonsillar metastasis appears to have an influence on survival as the patient is free of disease at 12 months post-surgery.