title: Anal metastasis from recurrent breast lobular carcinoma: a case report.
abstract: We report a case of isolated gastrointestinal metastasis from breast lobular carcinoma, which mimicked primary anal cancer. In July 2000, an 88-year-old woman presented with infiltrating lobular cancer (pT1/G2/N2). The patient received postoperative radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Four years later, she presented with an anal polypoid lesion. The mass was removed for biopsy. Immunohistochemical staining suggested a breast origin. Radiotherapy was chosen for this patient, which resulted in complete regression of the lesion. The patient died 3 years after the first manifestation of gastrointestinal metastasis. According to the current literature, we consider the immunohistochemistry features that are essential to support the suspicion of gastrointestinal breast metastasis, and since we consider the gastrointestinal involvement as a sign of systemic disease, the therapy should be less aggressive and systemic.
authors.affiliation: University of Genova, Largo Benzi, 8. 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varaldo
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Assalino
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ansaldo
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgonovo
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D011123:Polyploidy; D012008:Recurrence