Paraneoplastic changes of oropharyngeal mucosa in breast cancer

• Published in: Strahlentherapie und Onkologie Vol. 182; no. 2; pp. 112 - 115
• Main Authors: Just, Tino, Bombor, Ingmar, Pau, Hans Wilhelm, Klautke, Gunther, Fietkau, Rainer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01.02.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Cheek; Disease Progression; Endoscopy; Epithelium; Female; Humans; Leukoplakia, Oral - diagnosis; Leukoplakia, Oral - pathology; Lip Diseases - diagnosis; Lip Diseases - pathology; Liver; Liver Neoplasms - diagnosis; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Liver Neoplasms - surgery; Microscopy, Confocal; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Papilloma - diagnosis; Papilloma - pathology; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - diagnosis; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - pathology; Resurfacing; Surfacing
• ISSN: 0179-7158; 1439-099X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00066-006-1479-y

Paraneoplasias in the oral cavity are uncommon and have been rarely described so far. A woman with isolated papillomatosis and keratosis of oropharyngeal epithelia is reported. In a 43-year-old woman suffering from breast cancer, extensive changes of oropharyngeal epithelia were apparent 2.5 years after primary surgery and combined radiochemotherapy (RCT) as well as relapse therapy with RCT. At that time, radiologic investigations showed no locoregional or distant metastases. Nevertheless, after removal of the upper lip changes and skin resurfacing of the upper lip, progression of the oropharyngeal and labial changes was registered. Subsequent restaging showed advanced liver metastases. After treatment of the liver metastases, a regression of the extensive oropharyngeal changes became apparent. The appearance of untypical changes of oropharyngeal epithelia is suspective of paraneoplasia. In order to diagnose tumor recurrence, a restaging should be performed.