Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The stomach is an infrequent site of breast cancer metastasis. It may prove very difficult to distinguish a breast cancer metastasis to the stomach from a primary gastric cancer on the basis of clinical, endoscopic, radiological and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mahedeva Ula, Deere Harriet, Forshaw Matthew J, Strauss Dirk C, Jones Gregory E, Mason Robert C
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007-07-01
Series:World Journal of Surgical Oncology
Online Access:http://www.wjso.com/content/5/1/75
_version_ 1818752115487539200
author Mahedeva Ula
Deere Harriet
Forshaw Matthew J
Strauss Dirk C
Jones Gregory E
Mason Robert C
author_facet Mahedeva Ula
Deere Harriet
Forshaw Matthew J
Strauss Dirk C
Jones Gregory E
Mason Robert C
author_sort Mahedeva Ula
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The stomach is an infrequent site of breast cancer metastasis. It may prove very difficult to distinguish a breast cancer metastasis to the stomach from a primary gastric cancer on the basis of clinical, endoscopic, radiological and histopathological features. It is important to make this distinction as the basis of treatment for breast cancer metastasis to the stomach is usually with systemic therapies rather than surgery.</p> <p>Case presentations</p> <p>The first patient, a 51 year old woman, developed an apparently localised signet-ring gastric adenocarcinoma 3 years after treatment for lobular breast cancer with no clinical evidence of recurrence. Initial gastric biopsies were negative for both oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Histopathology after a D2 total gastrectomy was reported as T4 N3 Mx. Immunohistochemistry for Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein was positive, suggesting metastatic breast cancer. The second patient, a 61 year old woman, developed a proximal gastric signet-ring adenocarcinoma 14 years after initial treatment for breast cancer which had subsequently recurred with bony and pleural metastases. In this case, initial gastric biopsies were positive for both oestrogen and progesterone receptors; subsequent investigations revealed widespread metastases and surgery was avoided.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In patients with a history of breast cancer, a high index of suspicion for potential breast cancer metastasis to the stomach should be maintained when new gastrointestinal symptoms develop or an apparent primary gastric cancer is diagnosed. Complete histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the gastric biopsies and comparison with the original breast cancer pathology is important.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-18T04:46:20Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e89704010aa145d386578c89481cd12b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1477-7819
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-18T04:46:20Z
publishDate 2007-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series World Journal of Surgical Oncology
spelling doaj.art-e89704010aa145d386578c89481cd12b2022-12-21T21:20:34ZengBMCWorld Journal of Surgical Oncology1477-78192007-07-01517510.1186/1477-7819-5-75Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literatureMahedeva UlaDeere HarrietForshaw Matthew JStrauss Dirk CJones Gregory EMason Robert C<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The stomach is an infrequent site of breast cancer metastasis. It may prove very difficult to distinguish a breast cancer metastasis to the stomach from a primary gastric cancer on the basis of clinical, endoscopic, radiological and histopathological features. It is important to make this distinction as the basis of treatment for breast cancer metastasis to the stomach is usually with systemic therapies rather than surgery.</p> <p>Case presentations</p> <p>The first patient, a 51 year old woman, developed an apparently localised signet-ring gastric adenocarcinoma 3 years after treatment for lobular breast cancer with no clinical evidence of recurrence. Initial gastric biopsies were negative for both oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Histopathology after a D2 total gastrectomy was reported as T4 N3 Mx. Immunohistochemistry for Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein was positive, suggesting metastatic breast cancer. The second patient, a 61 year old woman, developed a proximal gastric signet-ring adenocarcinoma 14 years after initial treatment for breast cancer which had subsequently recurred with bony and pleural metastases. In this case, initial gastric biopsies were positive for both oestrogen and progesterone receptors; subsequent investigations revealed widespread metastases and surgery was avoided.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In patients with a history of breast cancer, a high index of suspicion for potential breast cancer metastasis to the stomach should be maintained when new gastrointestinal symptoms develop or an apparent primary gastric cancer is diagnosed. Complete histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the gastric biopsies and comparison with the original breast cancer pathology is important.</p>http://www.wjso.com/content/5/1/75
spellingShingle Mahedeva Ula
Deere Harriet
Forshaw Matthew J
Strauss Dirk C
Jones Gregory E
Mason Robert C
Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature
World Journal of Surgical Oncology
title Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature
title_full Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature
title_fullStr Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature
title_full_unstemmed Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature
title_short Breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer: report of two cases and review of literature
title_sort breast cancer metastasis to the stomach may mimic primary gastric cancer report of two cases and review of literature
url http://www.wjso.com/content/5/1/75
work_keys_str_mv AT mahedevaula breastcancermetastasistothestomachmaymimicprimarygastriccancerreportoftwocasesandreviewofliterature
AT deereharriet breastcancermetastasistothestomachmaymimicprimarygastriccancerreportoftwocasesandreviewofliterature
AT forshawmatthewj breastcancermetastasistothestomachmaymimicprimarygastriccancerreportoftwocasesandreviewofliterature
AT straussdirkc breastcancermetastasistothestomachmaymimicprimarygastriccancerreportoftwocasesandreviewofliterature
AT jonesgregorye breastcancermetastasistothestomachmaymimicprimarygastriccancerreportoftwocasesandreviewofliterature
AT masonrobertc breastcancermetastasistothestomachmaymimicprimarygastriccancerreportoftwocasesandreviewofliterature