Background: 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.
Case report: 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.
Conclusion: The appearance of untypical changes of oropharyngeal epithelia is suspective of paraneoplasia. In order to diagnose tumor recurrence, a restaging should be performed.