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. 2022 Aug:97:107452.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.107452. Epub 2022 Jul 25.

Acute appendicitis secondary to metastatic breast cancer. 12 Years after first primary tumor diagnosis. A case report

Victoria G Hughes  1 , Pedro Osácar  2 , Darío Ramallo  2
Affiliations

Acute appendicitis secondary to metastatic breast cancer. 12 Years after first primary tumor diagnosis. A case report

Victoria G Hughes et al. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Metastatic adenocarcinoma to the appendix is an uncommon finding, there are few published cases in the literature of appendicitis from metastatic breast carcinoma.

Presentation of case: A 51-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department with a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis with a past medical history of stage IV Breast Cancer 12 years ago. Appendectomy was performed, finding a perforated appendix. Anatomo-pathology examination revealed a semi-differentiated carcinoma involving the tip of the appendix.

Discussion: Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) metastases of breast carcinoma are an uncommon finding. Appendiceal metastases are a very uncommon finding, and the interval between diagnosis of the primary carcinoma and the metastases can be many years. There are no reports about whether right hemicolectomy provides better oncological outcomes than an appendectomy in stage IV BC.

Conclusion: There are no guidelines for the management of this disease but unquestionably, multidisciplinary management leads to better outcomes.

Keywords: Appendicitis; Breast cancer metastases; Case report; Secondary appendiceal neoplasm.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Axial sections of the computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated an enlarged and dilated appendix with periappendiceal fat stranding.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Coronal sections of the computed tomography demonstrated finding suggestive of acute appendicitis.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain at 4× (A) and 10× (B) magnification, in the black arrow is demonstrated the breast cancer metastases, and the blue arrow point the normal appendicle mucosa.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The panel of immunohistochemical stains was positive for estrogen receptor (A) and GCDFP-15 (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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