Oncol Case Rep J | Volume 3, Issue 3 | Case Report | Open Access

Appendiceal Metastasis of Breast Cancer and Recurrent Acute Appendicitis: Case Report and Literature Review

Yurie Haruyama1*, Eisuke Fukuma1, Masaaki Sakamoto2, Makiko Nakagawa1, Mika Nashimoto1, Anri Gen1, Miki Nyui3, Masafumi Kurosumi1, Youichi Machida4, Syunya Takada5, Satoshi Matsuda5

1Breast Center, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
2Kisaradu Breast Clinic, Chiba, Japan
3Anatomic Pathology, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
4Radiology Clinic, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan
5General Surgery, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan

*Correspondance to: Yurie Haruyama 

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Abstract

Breast cancer is among one of the most common forms of cancer that affects women in Japan, with 94,000 new cases reported annually. The common sites of breast cancer metastasis include the bone, liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and brain, while metastasis to the appendix is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of breast cancer with multiple metastases in the bones, brain and lymph nodes, with concomitant carcinomatous pericarditis in a 54-year-old woman. While undergoing chemotherapy, she experienced recurrent acute appendicitis 5 times over 9 months, which interfered with her chemotherapy schedule. Therefore, a laparoscopic interval appendectomy was performed. The tumor cells from the resected appendix and those of the breast carcinoma were compared immunohistochemically. Both tissues were positive for Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Progesterone Receptor (PR) and negative for epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Thus, appendiceal metastasis of breast cancer was pathologically diagnosed. After the appendectomy, her symptoms were alleviated and she was able to maintain her chemotherapy schedule.
On literature review, we found only 18 reported cases of appendicitis caused by breast cancer metastasis; however, there were no reports of frequent recurrent appendicitis. Although rare, it is necessary to consider the possibility of appendiceal metastasis when a patient with breast cancer presents with frequent recurrent appendicitis.

Keywords:

Appendicitis; Breast cancer; ER; HER2; CT

Citation:

Haruyama Y, Fukuma E, Sakamoto M, Nakagawa M, Nashimoto M, Gen A, et al. Appendiceal Metastasis of Breast Cancer and Recurrent Acute Appendicitis: Case Report and Literature Review. Oncol Case Report J. 2020;3(3):1027..

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