Small bowel obstruction due to ductal breast cancer metastasis

Abstract

The most frequent sites of breast cancer metastasis are the bone, lung and liver. Metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system and adrenal glands are rare, the gastrointestinal tract more frequently with being affected by lobular breast cancer metastasis, and rarely by ductal breast cancer. The case reports a 52-year-old female patient, previously diagnosed with locally advanced ductal breast carcinoma - cT4N+M0, who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by modified radical mastectomy – ypT2N3aM0 – and adjuvant radiotherapy. During follow-up there were no signs of recurrence, but the patient experienced several episodes of sub-acute intestinal obstruction, which resolved with medical treatment. In 2017, January the patient had another intestinal obstruction, but this time a laparotomy was performed, and two small bowel metastasis were found, which were resected. The pathologic exam revealed metastasis from ductal breast cancer. In the article have we discussed the patterns of breast cancer metastasis, with special consideration for gastrointestinal tract.