[Metastasis of breast cancer presenting in the appendix]

A 45 year-old woman was referred to the Emergency Department of Jósa András County Hospital with typical history and signs of appendicitis. Other than abdominal findings during physical examination we discovered a palpable mass in the right breast. The patient was transferred to the Department of Surgery and she was operated on, appendicectomy was performed. Following the uncomplicated postoperative course investigations were carried out to diagnose the mass in the right breast (mammography, ultrasound, chest X-ray, bone scan). The pathology report of the appendix suggested the possibility of a metastasis of ductal breast carcinoma in the perforated appendix. Probably the inflammation was caused by the infiltration of the appendix wall leading to perforation. Following the investigations a right-sided mastectomy was performed with dissection of axillary lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical examination definitely proved that the metastasis in the appendix originated from the breast tumour.