Primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma that metastasized to an axillary lymph node in a woman with a history of breast cancer: A case report and diagnostic pitfalls

Abstract

Herein, we will report on a patient with primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma that metastasized to an axillary lymph node and who had previously undergone a mastectomy and chemotherapy for carcinoma of the right breast. A 40-year-old Japanese woman underwent partial resection of her left lung for metastatic breast cancer at our hospital. Thirteen years later, she developed a left axillary lymph node swelling, and a biopsy was performed. Histological findings were compatible with metastatic breast carcinoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed systemic lymphadenopathy, peritoneal nodules, and a liver mass. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer and underwent additional chemotherapy. Six months later, she developed ascites. She was diagnosed with serous adenocarcinoma using conventional and immunocytological examinations of the ascites. She underwent suboptimal debulking surgery, consisting of a total hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and partial omentectomy. The final pathological diagnosis was primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma.The diagnosis and pitfalls of this case will be presented.

The Importance of Metastatic Papillary Serous Carcinoma in Cases of High-grade Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma of the Breast: An Extremely Rare Case and a Possible Pitfall

“…13 Likewise, a case of primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma that metastasized to an axillary LN, with previous contralateral mastectomy and chemotherapy for carcinoma of the breast, has been described in the literature. 19 The finding of isolated distant metastatic axillary lymphadenopathy without remarkable intrabdominal disease of primary peritoneal carcinoma has been described in the literature, misinterpreted as primary breast carcinoma. 20 The length of survival for patients with PPSC and breast metastasis is around 2 to 31 months, 5 with a five-year survival rate ranging from 0% to 26,5%.…”