Sternal resection for recurrent breast cancer: a cautionary tale

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Breast Cancer Research

Background:

• Solitary sternal metastasis from breast cancer is an uncommon occurrence.
• Treatment strategies for sternal metastasis, particularly sternal resection, remain controversial.
• Existing literature often reports optimistic outcomes for sternal resection in such cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of isolated sternal recurrence of breast cancer treated with partial sternectomy.
• To review the existing literature on sternal resection for breast cancer recurrence.
• To emphasize the critical need for comprehensive staging before surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a premenopausal woman with triple-negative breast cancer.
• Treatment included mastectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
• Diagnosis of sternal recurrence via imaging, followed by partial sternectomy.

Main Results:

• The patient developed a solitary sternal recurrence 3 years post-initial treatment.
• Partial sternectomy was performed for the isolated sternal metastasis.
• The case underscores the potential for recurrence even after standard adjuvant therapies.

Conclusions:

• Sternal resection for solitary sternal metastasis from breast cancer requires careful patient selection.
• Thorough clinical and radiological evaluation to exclude systemic disease is paramount before considering extensive surgery.
• This case contributes to the understanding of managing rare breast cancer recurrences.