Breast cancer presenting as unilateral arm edema.
BACKGROUND
Symptomatic arm lymphedema as the presenting symptom of invasive breast carcinoma is a rare occurrence.


METHODS
We report a case of invasive breast cancer presenting with unilateral arm swelling. The patient was initially thought to have venous thrombosis. A thorough physical examination and a mammogram revealed the presence of breast cancer and associated subclinical axillary lymphadenopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Failure to recognize this presentation can lead to misdiagnosis or a significant delay in diagnosis and treatment.
Zakaria
Shaheen
S
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Johnson
Ruth
R
Pockaj
Barbara A
BA
Degnim
Amy C
AC
D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis