Caecal metastasis from breast cancer presenting as intestinal obstruction

Rashmi Birla¹ , Kamal Kumar Mahawar¹ , Mavis Orizu¹ , Muhammad S Siddiqui² and Arun Batra³

¹Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Hartlepool, Hartlepool, TS24 9AH, UK

²Department Of Pathology, University Hospital of Hartlepool, Hartlepool, TS24 9AH, UK

³Department Of Radiology, University Hospital of Hartlepool, Hartlepool, TS24 9AH, UK

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World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2008, 6:47doi:10.1186/1477-7819-6-47


Published:	9 May 2008

Abstract

Background

Gastrointestinal metastsasis from the breast cancer are rare. We report a patient who presented with intestinal obstruction due to solitary caecal metastasis from infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast. We also review the available literature briefly.

Case presentation

A 72 year old lady with past history of breast cancer presented with intestinal obstruction due to a caecal mass. She underwent an emergency right hemicolectomy. The histological examination of the right hemicolectomy specimen revealed an adenocarcinoma in caecum staining positive for Cytokeratin 7 and Carcinoembryonic antigen and negative for Cytokeratin 20, CDX2 and Estrogen receptor. Eight out of 11 mesenteric nodes showed tumour deposits. A histological diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma was given.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of solitary metastasis to caecum from infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast. Awareness of this possibility will aid in appropriate management of such patients.