title: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with breast carcinoma.
abstract: We report the case of a patient who presented with a carcinoma of her right breast with ipsilateral axillary lymph node involvement whose staging investigations were otherwise normal. In addition to surgery she received a course of CMF chemotherapy and tamoxifen. Within six months of the diagnosis of breast carcinoma being made, the patient presented as an emergency with widespread intra-abdominal disease from a primary hepatocellular carcinoma. We have not previously witnessed the development of a second primary malignancy in a patient who has already received medication considered to be beneficial in the treatment of both types of malignancy. An extensive literature search has failed to reveal a similar case. The question of immunosuppression secondary to treatment with CMF chemotherapy is raised, and we suggest that perhaps a simple percutaneous biopsy of apparent liver metastases be performed under ultrasound control so as to determine the origin of liver disease in patients with breast carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hussey
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000556:secondary; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary