A rare case of primary rectal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the breast

Authors

• Sefik I. Hasukic, Department of Surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Trnovac bb, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tel. +387 (35) 303129. Fax. +387 (35) 250474. E-mail: shasukic{at}bih.net.ba
• Ermina S. Iljazovic, Department of Surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Trnovac bb, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tel. +387 (35) 303129. Fax. +387 (35) 250474. E-mail: shasukic{at}bih.net.ba
• Amer H. Odobasic, Department of Surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Trnovac bb, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tel. +387 (35) 303129. Fax. +387 (35) 250474. E-mail: shasukic{at}bih.net.ba
• Ervin A. Matovic, Department of Surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Trnovac bb, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tel. +387 (35) 303129. Fax. +387 (35) 250474. E-mail: shasukic{at}bih.net.ba

Abstract

Primary rectal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the breast is an exceedingly rare event. Its management differs from that of primary breast cancer, as illustrated by this case. A 63-year-old woman presented with a breast lump 30 months after abdominoperineal resection for rectal adenocarcinoma, stage T3N1M0 (stage III), followed by standard postoperative radiochemotherapy. The patient underwent a mammography and ultrasonography. A CT scan of the abdomen showed metastatic disease. An excisional biopsy of the breast lump was performed; morphological features were identical to the original rectal cancer. Immunohistochemical results were negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15, and intensity positive for cytokeratin 20 and carcinoembryonic antigen. The patient died after treatment with palliative chemotherapy. Metastatic disease from rectal carcinoma to the breast is a marker for disseminated metastatic spread with poor prognosis.

Article Type

Case Report

First Page

1014

Last Page

1017

Recommended Citation

Hasukic, Sefik I.; Iljazovic, Ermina S.; Odobasic, Amer H.; and Matovic, Ervin A. (2012) "A rare case of primary rectal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the breast," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 33: Iss. 9, Article 13.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.5625