Late recurrence of breast carcinoma metastasis to the hypopharynx: a case report

Background: We report a rare case of a patient with a hypopharyngeal metastasis from breast cancer.

Case presentation: Isolated breast cancer metastasis to the hypopharynx has been previously reported in only one autopsy case. Herein, we report a 56-year-old woman with metastases to the hypopharynx almost 24 years after receiving a mastectomy and chemotherapy to treat primary breast carcinoma. We believe that she is the first patient to be treated for metastatic breast carcinoma to the hypopharynx. The hypopharyngeal tumor reduced in size after administration of an oral aromatase inhibitor. The patient has remained alive with a preserved larynx for three years.

Conclusions: Breast cancer metastasis to the hypopharynx is an extremely rare event.