Axillary Metastasis from Occult Breast Cancer and Synchronous Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

This is an 84-year-old woman found to have on exam two Right axillary masses by her Primary Care Physician. The patient was then sent to our institution for further evaluation, which surprisingly revealed a lung mass, but no primary breast mass. After biopsies, both areas revealed different immunohistochemistry. She underwent further treatment, with resection of both the lung and axillary tumors. This is an interesting case that report highlights the importance of having high index of suspicion of breast cancer in the setting of axillary mass and, the importance of differentiating associated synchronous versus metastatic cancer.