A case of breast metastasis mimicking inflammatory breast cancer from colon cancer

Abstract

An 82-year-old woman undergoing right hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer was pathologically diagnosed with a StageIII Solid poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and was given adjuvant tegafur uracil. Three months postoperatively, tumor markers rose and positron emission tomography (PET) detected swollen abdominal paraaortic, mediastinal and left supraclavicular lymph nodes. We diagnosed extensive lymph node metastasis from colon cancer and changed the chemotherapy to mFOLFOX6. Left breast swelling, rubor, and skin nodules gradually appeared. Left breast enhancement on computed tomography (CT) suggested imflammatory breast cancer. Pathological biopsy diagnosis of skin nodules indicated metastasis from ascending colon cancer. The patient died one year and two months after surgery. Metastatic breast cancer from colorectal cancer is rare and that mimicking inflammatory breast cancer has not previously been reported in Japan. This rare case is reported and discussed.