Breast cancer: presentation and intervention in women with gastrointestinal metastasis and carcinomatosis.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract or peritoneum is rare. We reviewed the natural history of ductal and lobular carcinoma in women with breast cancer metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, or both.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of all patients (1985-2000) with a pathologic diagnosis of breast cancer metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract or peritoneum. Patients were categorized into three groups: those with gastrointestinal metastasis, carcinomatosis, or both.


RESULTS
Of 73 patients, 23 (32%) had gastrointestinal metastasis only, 32 (44%) had carcinomatosis only, and 18 (25%) had both. The median age at initial breast cancer diagnosis was 55 years. The mean interval between the primary diagnosis and metastatic presentation was 7 years. Sites of gastrointestinal metastases included the esophagus (8%), stomach (28%), small intestine (19%), and colon and rectum (45%). Infiltrating lobular carcinoma represented 34 (64%) of the 53 gastrointestinal metastases. The median overall survival after diagnosis was 28 months. Palliative surgical intervention in 47 patients (64%) did not affect overall survival. Some survival benefit may have accrued to select patients with gastrointestinal metastasis who underwent surgical palliation (44 vs. 9 months). Advanced age at diagnosis and gastric metastases had a negative effect on survival, whereas treatment with systemic chemotherapy or tamoxifen had a positive effect on survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrointestinal metastasis occurred more often in patients with invasive lobular carcinoma. Surgical intervention did not significantly extend overall survival but may be considered in a select group of patients.
McLemore
Elisabeth C
EC
Division of General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, USA.
Pockaj
Barbara A
BA
Reynolds
Carol
C
Gray
Richard J
RJ
Hernandez
Jose L
JL
Grant
Clive S
CS
Donohue
John H
JH
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies