World Journal of Surgical Oncology (Jul 2017)

Colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma: a case report

  • Kazuma Tsujimura,
  • Tsuyoshi Teruya,
  • Masaya Kiyuna,
  • Kuniki Higa,
  • Junko Higa,
  • Kouji Iha,
  • Kiyoshi Chinen,
  • Masaya Asato,
  • Yasukatsu Takushi,
  • Morihito Ota,
  • Eijirou Dakeshita,
  • Atsushi Nakachi,
  • Akira Gakiya,
  • Hiroshi Shiroma

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-017-1193-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Background Colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma is very rare. Here, we report a case of colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma. Case presentation The 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. Conclusions We 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.

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