Bilateral numb chin syndrome as a symptom of breast cancer metastasis in the mandible: A case report and discussion on the usefulness of cone-beam computed tomography to assess bone involvement in oral cancer

Abstract

© Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Springer Japan 2015. Although extremely rare, cancer metastases in the oral cavity are significant because they represent a sign of relapse of the primary malignancy and are difficult to diagnose because of their uncharacteristic clinical appearance. Numb chin syndrome is considered an important symptom and a harbinger of malignancy, especially in patients with a history of malignant disease. A 60-year-old female patient with a history of breast cancer complained of a 6-month history of bilateral numb chin syndrome. Cone-beam computed tomography scans revealed malignant characteristics in a bone lesion, comprising a bilateral ill-defined osteolytic process in the mandibular body. A malignancy arising from the breast tissue was confirmed by biopsy results. When numb chin syndrome is present, a proper step-by-step clinical algorithm must include a detailed patient history, clinical examination, three-dimensional imaging of the maxillofacial area, and biopsy. Cone-beam computed tomography may be a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating jaw bone invasion by tumors.