Cavernous Sinus Metastasis from Carcinoma of Buccal Mucosa- A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Distant metastasis from Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) is uncommon, Cavernous Sinus (CS) metastasis being very rare. Infrequent presentation and misdiagnosis makes it a difficult entity to identify and treat. Hereby, Authors present a rare case of 47 year old male of CS metastasis from postoperative carcinoma of buccal mucosa. The patient was a histopathologically proven case of poorly differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of left buccal mucosa for which he underwent definitive surgery. During adjuvant Radiotherapy (RT) he developed severe headache, diplopia and ptosis. 18Fluorodeoxy-Glucose-Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (18FDG PET-CT) revealed an FDG avid lesion in left CS suggestive of CS metastasis. In view of local recurrence and CS metastasis palliative RT was given. Patient responded well to palliative RT but succumbed to the disease within months. CS metastasis has poor prognosis with limited treatment options which include palliative RT, either External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) or radiosurgery to CS. Chemotherapy for disseminated disease has limited benefits due to lesser penetration of the blood brain barrier.