A First Sign Not to be Missed: Cutaneous Metastasis from Breast Cancer
  • Elsa Carina Alves Araújo
    Internal Medicine Department, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Portugal
  • Manuel Barbosa
    Internal Medicine Department, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Portugal
  • Raquel Costa
    Internal Medicine Department, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Portugal
  • Bárbara Sousa
    Internal Medicine Department, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Portugal
  • Vítor Costa
    Internal Medicine Department, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Minho, Ponte de Lima, Portugal

Keywords

Skin lesions, cutaneous metastases, metastatic breast carcinoma, breast cancer

Abstract

Cutaneous metastasis has a frequency of 1 to 10% among all metastatic cancer forms and breast cancer accounts for 30% of all cases. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with 4 skin lesions distributed across the upper trunk and abdomen; these had developed over a period of 12 months. Over the previous 6 months she had also developed anorexia, asthenia and weight loss. Upon investigation, a nodular mass was found in the left breast. Skin and breast mass biopsy were performed. Histology confirmed the diagnosis: infiltrating lobular breast cancer with cutaneous metastasis. The patient underwent hormonal treatment, mastectomy and radiotherapy.
In rare cases, cutaneous metastasis appears as the first clinical manifestation of breast cancer. It is therefore crucial for patients and health professionals alike to be aware of new skin lesions. Cutaneous metastasis is a diagnostic sign of cancer that, it must be emphasised, is not restricted exclusively to later forms of the disease.

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    Published: 2020-01-08
    Issue: 2020: Vol 7 No 1 (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Araújo ECA, Barbosa M, Costa R, Sousa B, Costa V. A First Sign Not to be Missed: Cutaneous Metastasis from Breast Cancer. EJCRIM 2020;7 doi:10.12890/2020_001356.