Colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

BackgroundColonic metastasis from breast carcinoma is very rare. Here, we report a case of colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma.Case presentationThe patient was a 51-year-old woman. She had upper abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, repeatedly. We performed abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) to investigate these symptoms. The CT scan revealed a tumor in the ascending colon with contrast enhancement and showed an expanded small intestine. For further investigation of this tumor, we performed whole positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). The PET-CT scan revealed fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the ascending colon, mesentery, left breast, and left axillary region. Analysis of biopsy samples obtained during colonoscopy revealed signet ring cell-like carcinoma. Moreover, biopsy of the breast tumor revealed invasive lobular carcinoma. Therefore, the preoperative diagnosis was colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma. Open ileocecal resection was performed. The final diagnosis was multiple metastatic breast carcinomas, and the TNM classification was T2N1M1 Stage IV.ConclusionsWe presented a rare case of colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma. PET-CT may be useful in the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. When analysis of biopsy samples obtained during colonoscopy reveals signet ring cell-like carcinoma, the possibility of breast cancer as the primary tumor should be considered.

Breast Cancer Metastasis Masquerading as Primary Colon and Gastric Cancer: A Case Report

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Rare Metastases in Colorectum of Infiltrating Ductal Breast Cancer: A Rare Case Report and Review

“…Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to the liver, lungs, brain, adrenals, and, very rarely, the bones, but metastases to the GI tract is quite atypical [8]. The reported rates of GI metastases from breast cancer were rather low as approximately 4-18% of metastatic breast cases; furthermore, rates of colonic metastases were extremely low as 3% [9][10][11][12][13]. And 5%-15% of breast cancer is accompanied by distant metastasis at diagnosis [10].…”

Colonic metastasis from infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma in a male patient: A case report

“…Breast carcinoma commonly results in widespread dissemination that can involve many organs. While gastrointestinal metastases of breast carcinoma are an uncommon phenomenon occurring in approximately 4–18% of metastatic breast cancer patients, colonic metastases are extremely rare and occur in approximately 3% of cases [ 2 , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] ]. When it occurs, the rectum and the rectosigmoid region are most commonly affected and multifocal disease in the gastrointestinal system is often present [ 3 ].…”