Breast cancer associated with Recklinghausen's disease: report of a case

A 49-year-old woman with Recklinghausen's disease presented to our department for investigation of a left breast lump, measuring 60 mm x 50 mm, which she had first noticed 6 months earlier, but had disregarded, believing it to be another manifestation of her Recklinghausen's disease. The lump was suspected to be malignant based on physical examination and ultrasonography. Biopsy and frozen sections subsequently confirmed a diagnosis of scirrhous carcinoma. A standard radical mastectomy was performed, followed by postoperative chemoendocrine therapy. However, lungs, liver, and bone metastasis, as well as a contralateral breast tumor, developed and she died 4 months after surgery.