Successful peritoneovenous shunt in a case of refractory ascites with multiple liver matastases from breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: Refractory ascites is one of common symptoms in patients with breast cancer. Case report: A woman in her fifties was admitted with massive ascites and was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer with multiple liver metastases. Diuretics, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy could not control the ascites. Therefore, we implanted a peritoneovenous shunt to continue the cancer treatment with good quality of life. Despite the liver metastases had progressed during subsequent chemotherapies, no ascites had been detected for 8 months. Conclusion: We believe that peritoneovenous shunt can be an effective treatment that support anticancer therapy and palliative care in patients with cancer accompanied by intractable ascites.