J Korean Soc Radiol.  2010 Jun;62(6):551-554.

Localized Metastasis to Small and Large Bowel from Breast Cancer: A Case Report

• Shim JH
• Son EJ
• Lim BJ
• Youk JH
• Kim JA
• Jeong J

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and the main leading cause of cancer death. Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to the bones, lungs, and liver; however, gastrointestinal involvement is rare. The most frequent sites of the GI tract involved are the stomach and the small intestine, while colonic metastasis is extremely rare with the presentation being nonspecific. Early diagnosis is important for proper treatment. We present a case of metastatic breast cancer to the small and large bowel.

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Colon
Early Diagnosis
Female
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Intestine, Small
Lung
Neoplasm Metastasis
Stomach

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A 70-year-old woman with locally advanced cancer in the left breast. US image demonstrates a 3 cm-sized irregular hypoechoic mass at 1 o'clock position.

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  Fig. 2 Colonoscopy shows an ulcerofungating mass at the distal transverse colon with lobulation on the surface.

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  Fig. 3 A 70-year-old woman followed after undergoing a left mastectomy due to locally advanced breast cancer in her left breast. A. Abdominal CT shows an enhancing mass (arrow) in the distal portion of transverse colon, corresponding to the finding on a colonoscopy. B. There is another enhancing mass (arrow) in the distal ileum causing the intussusceptions (arrowhead). C, D. Strong F-18 FDG uptakes are noted for each lesion (SUV 8.9 (C) and 10.4 (D), respectively).

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  Fig. 4 Histopathologic findings of initial breast cancer and colonic metastasis. A. Histologic finding of the initial breast mass. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma showing marked nuclear atypia with prominent nucleoli (Original magnification: ×400). B. Histologic finding of the colon. The tumor is composed of non-cohesive, pleomorphic tumor cells with prominent nucleoli. The immunohistochemical staining of CK7 (+) and CK20 (-) favors the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma over primary gastrointestinal carcinoma.

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