Breast-like vulvar lesion with concurrent breast cancer: a case report and critical literature review

Abstract

In the current report, we describe an intriguing case of a breast-like cancer lesion located in the vulvar region in a woman lacking a remarkable past medical or family history of breast cancer but with concurrent breast cancer. Consequently, a differential diagnosis between a primary synchronous breast and vulvar cancer or a metastatic breast carcinoma to the vulva is a key point in terms of the clinical approach. In a review of the literature, 39 cases of breast-like cancer lesion have been described: 23 cases of primary infiltrating carcinoma of the vulva and 16 cases of vulvar metastases of breast carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a clinically synchronous vulvar metastasis from an invasive ductal carcinoma. The main diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis between primary or metastatic breast-like vulvar carcinoma are also discussed.