Micropapillary lung cancer with breast metastasis simulating primary breast cancer due to architectural distortion on images

Korean J Radiol. 2012 Mar-Apr;13(2):249-53. doi: 10.3348/kjr.2012.13.2.249. Epub 2012 Mar 7.

Abstract

A 47-year-old Korean woman with right middle lobe lung adenocarcinoma, malignant pleural effusion, and multiple lymph node and bone metastases, after three months of lung cancer diagnosis, presented with a palpable right breast mass. Images of the right breast demonstrated architectural distortion that strongly suggested primary breast cancer. Breast biopsy revealed metastatic lung cancer with a negative result for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and mammaglobin, and a positive result for thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). We present a case of breast metastasis from a case of lung cancer with an extensive micropapillary component, which was initially misinterpreted as a primary breast cancer due to unusual image findings with architectural distortion.

Keywords: Breast images; Lung cancer; Metastasis; Micropapillary carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Mammography
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography, Mammary