Colorectal Cancer Spreading to the Breast: A Case Report
Author Information
Author(s): Rodney E. Shackelford, Pushpa Allam-Nandyala, Marilyn M. Bui, John V. Kiluk, Nicole Nicosia Esposito
Primary Institution: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Conclusion
Colorectal cancer can metastasize to the breast, which is rare and often indicates a poor prognosis.
Supporting Evidence
- Metastases to the breast from extramammary primaries are uncommon, accounting for 0.5–6% of all breast malignancies.
- The largest previous study reviewed only 8 cases of colorectal cancer metastasizing to the breast.
- Breast metastasis from colorectal cancer typically appears 21 months after the initial diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
Takeaway
Sometimes, cancer from the colon can spread to the breast, but this doesn't happen very often. When it does, it usually means the person is very sick.
Methodology
The case was evaluated and reported in compliance with the Institutional Review Board Policy, and a literature review of 19 cases was conducted.
Limitations
The study is limited by the small number of reported cases and the variability in presentation and outcomes.
Participant Demographics
The case involved a 44-year-old Caucasian female; the literature review included cases with an average age of 54.3 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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