A Case of Retroperitoneal Metastasis of an Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer

Abstract

We report a case of retroperitoneal metastasis of invasive ductal breast carcinoma. A 62-year-old woman underwent surveillance computed tomography (CT) one year post-mastectomy. CT revealed bilateral hydronephrosis, for which bilateral ureteral stents were placed. The patient also noted the development of nausea and lower extremity edema. CT and upper gastrointestinal examinations revealed severe stenosis of the duodenum and the inferior vena cava, without a space-occupying lesion in the retroperitoneum. She underwent a gastro-jejunostomy with biopsy of the retroperitoneal tissue, for a suspected recurrence of her breast cancer. Histological examination of retroperitoneal tissue revealed breast cancer metastasis. Though chemotherapy was planned, she was diagnosed with meningeal carcinomatosis 1 month later, after presenting with severe headaches. The patient died 2 months after the laparotomy. Despite the rarity of retroperitoneal breast cancer metastasis, it should be considered for patients with a history of breast cancer.