Metastatic breast adenocarcinoma masquerading as colonic primary. Report of two cases.
BACKGROUND
Common sites of metastasis for the breast cancer are bones, lungs, the central nervous system and liver. The colon is the rarest site of metastasis for the breast carcinoma.


RESULTS
We report our recent experience of two female patients, 55 and 57 years old respectively, who presented breast metastasis at the proximal transverse colon. They were operated for breast carcinoma followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, four and ten years before the metastasis was diagnosed. The symptoms were anaemia and bowel obstruction. Diagnosis was made by double contrast barium enema and colonoscopy. Postoperatively, both patients received systemic chemotherapy. At the follow-up, two and three years after, there is no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with history of breast cancer presenting with anaemia and/or bowel obstruction should be examined for possible metastasis to colon and should be treated surgically followed by systemic chemotherapy.
Michalopoulos
A
A
1st Propedeutic Surgical Clinic, Aristotle University, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Papadopoulos
V
V
Zatagias
A
A
Fahantidis
E
E
Apostolidis
S
S
Haralabopoulos
E
E
Netta
S
S
Sasopoulou
I
I
Harlaftis
N
N
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome