Abstract
We report a case of metastasis to the tail of the pancreas from breast cancer. The patient was a 74-year-old woman who underwent left modified mastectomy at age 68. Histopathological study revealed it to be an invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen receptor (-), progesterone receptor (-), and Herceptin 2 (+++). Although the breast cancer had been controlled with chemotherapy, abdominal computed tomography revealed a tumor in the pancreatic tail 6 years after the surgery. Examinations suggested it to be primary pancreatic cancer, and a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. Histopathological study of the resected tumor revealed it to be invasive ductal carcinoma which was similar to the specimen of previous breast cancer, and immunohistochemical examination showed it to be estrogen receptor (-), progesterone receptor (-), and Herceptin 2 3+. Therefore we concluded that this tumor was a pancreatic metastasis from the breast cancer. Although pancreatic metastasis from breast cancer is rare, that possibility should be considered in treating pancreatic tumors. And we also should consider aggressive surgery in the case in which the metastasis is solitary and safely respectable, for that might prolong prognosis and improve quality of life in some cases.
