Acute appendicitis secondary to metastatic carcinoma of the breast

A patient developing acute appendicitis and intestinal obstruction secondary to metastatic breast carcinoma is described. This rare occurrence may become more common with improved survival in cases of advanced breast malignancy. The intrinsic nature of malignant metastases in the appendix, with or without concurrent immunosuppressive chemotherapy, leads to a late presentation of appendicitis with a high incidence of perforation, associated with an increased mortality and morbidity. It is suggested that appendicectomy should be undertaken as a routine in patients with carcinoma of the breast when oophorectomy or laparotomy is to be performed.