Anatomical Extent, Presentation, and Outcomes of Distant Metastases to the Infratemporal Fossa: A Systematic Review
- 1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Distant metastasis to the infratemporal fossa (ITF) is rare and can mimic primary skull-base tumors. We systematically reviewed reported distant ITF metastases. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 (PROSPERO CRD420261422546), PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through 12 June 2026, for reports of ITF metastasis from a distant primary tumor; direct extension from adjacent tumors was excluded. Data were summarized descriptively, and reports were appraised with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports. Results: Seventeen reports (17 patients) were included (median age 59 years). The lung was the most frequent primary site (n = 4), followed by the kidney, colorectum, and thyroid (n = 3 each); adenocarcinoma was the most common histology (n = 7). Facial pain (n = 9) and numbness (n = 6) predominated. Bone destruction was reported in 12 patients, and the maxillary sinus (n = 7), orbit (n = 6), pterygopalatine fossa (n = 5), middle cranial fossa (n = 5), and cavernous sinus (n = 4) were involved. The median reported interval to ITF metastasis was 36 months; 11 metastases were metachronous, and 11 patients had other metastatic disease during the reported course. Five patients underwent regional resection or debulking; radiotherapy was reported in eight, radioiodine in three, and systemic drug treatment in nine. At last follow-up, 11 patients were alive, four had died, and status was unknown in two. Conclusions: Distant ITF metastases may present with facial pain and cranial neuropathies. Prognosis is insufficiently characterized, and management should be individualized within a multidisciplinary team. The evidence is limited to case reports with incomplete reporting. No external funding was received.
Related
- Widespread Cutaneous Metastases as the Primary Presentation of an Occult Neuroendocrine Tumour of Unknown Primary
- Disseminated Mixed Lytic‐Sclerotic Skeletal Metastases as Initial Presentation of Gallbladder Carcinoma: A Case Report
- High intestinal obstruction secondary to peritoneal metastases from invasive lobular breast carcinoma: A case report of an unusual presentation
- Rare Sites of Metastases to the Breast and Integumentary System in Advanced Cervical Cancer at Initial Presentation in Eastern Uganda: A Case Report.
- Long-Term Outcomes of Interventional Treatments for Lung Cancer Liver Metastases: Transarterial Chemoembolization and Microwave Ablation
BibTeX
@article{bayramoglu2026anatomical,
title = {{Anatomical Extent, Presentation, and Outcomes of Distant Metastases to the Infratemporal Fossa: A Systematic Review}},
author = {Ahmed Rasim Bayramoglu and Ufuk Erginoglu and Umid Sulaimanov and Nafiye Sanlier and Irem Uslu and Can Hamzaoglu and Zeyad Kamar and Yerkebulan Serikkanov and Dilshod Muhammadvalievich Mamadaliev and Mokhira Jalolova and Maryam Sabah Al-Jebur and Ersin Ikizoglu and Abdullah Keles and Mustafa Kemal Baskaya},
journal = {Cancers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/cancers18203392},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3392},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Anatomical Extent, Presentation, and Outcomes of Distant Metastases to the Infratemporal Fossa: A Systematic Review
AU - Ahmed Rasim Bayramoglu
AU - Ufuk Erginoglu
AU - Umid Sulaimanov
AU - Nafiye Sanlier
AU - Irem Uslu
AU - Can Hamzaoglu
AU - Zeyad Kamar
AU - Yerkebulan Serikkanov
AU - Dilshod Muhammadvalievich Mamadaliev
AU - Mokhira Jalolova
AU - Maryam Sabah Al-Jebur
AU - Ersin Ikizoglu
AU - Abdullah Keles
AU - Mustafa Kemal Baskaya
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Cancers
DO - 10.3390/cancers18203392
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3392
AB - Background/Objectives: Distant metastasis to the infratemporal fossa (ITF) is rare and can mimic primary skull-base tumors. We systematically reviewed reported distant ITF metastases. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 (PROSPERO CRD420261422546), PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through 12 June 2026, for reports of ITF metastasis from a distant primary tumor; direct extension from adjacent tumors was excluded. Data were summarized descriptively, and reports were appraised with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports. Results: Seventeen reports (17 patients) were included (median age 59 years). The lung was the most frequent primary site (n = 4), followed by the kidney, colorectum, and thyroid (n = 3 each); adenocarcinoma was the most common histology (n = 7). Facial pain (n = 9) and numbness (n = 6) predominated. Bone destruction was reported in 12 patients, and the maxillary sinus (n = 7), orbit (n = 6), pterygopalatine fossa (n = 5), middle cranial fossa (n = 5), and cavernous sinus (n = 4) were involved. The median reported interval to ITF metastasis was 36 months; 11 metastases were metachronous, and 11 patients had other metastatic disease during the reported course. Five patients underwent regional resection or debulking; radiotherapy was reported in eight, radioiodine in three, and systemic drug treatment in nine. At last follow-up, 11 patients were alive, four had died, and status was unknown in two. Conclusions: Distant ITF metastases may present with facial pain and cranial neuropathies. Prognosis is insufficiently characterized, and management should be individualized within a multidisciplinary team. The evidence is limited to case reports with incomplete reporting. No external funding was received.
SN - 2072-6694
ER -