Metastases or tumour to the jaws are rare and those to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are even rarer. The symptoms like preauricular pain, swelling and clicking are generally associated with TMJ disease. But the same symptoms are also found in tumours of the jaws or other diseases. We report on the case of a 48-year-old woman with a 12-year history of breast cancer who was referred to our department for clarification of preauricular swelling and pain. The possible aetiology of TMJ disorders and the frequency and localization of metastases to the jaws are discussed.