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Breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma
Hung-Chieh Lo1, Kam-Fai Lee, Chun-Nan Yeh
1Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Hepato-Gastroenterology
|April 17, 2004
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the breast, a finding indicating advanced disease. This rare occurrence, documented in three patients, suggests a dismal prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma with breast metastasis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Hepatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly prevalent in Taiwan.
- Breast metastasis from non-mammary cancers is uncommon, representing about 2% of breast tumors.
- Breast metastasis from HCC has not been previously reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first documented cases of breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.
- To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with this rare presentation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records of three patients.
- Patients were treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Taipei.
Main Results:
- One male and two female patients, aged 41-73 years (median 53), were identified.
- All patients had liver cirrhosis and extrahepatic metastasis at diagnosis of breast metastasis.
- The interval between HCC diagnosis and breast metastasis ranged from 0-40 months (median 20 months).
- All patients expired within one month of breast metastasis diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Breast metastasis from HCC is an extremely rare event.
- Hematogenous spread is the likely route of metastasis.
- This metastasis indicates an advanced stage of HCC with a very poor prognosis.