[Gallbladder metastasis from breast carcinoma: a new case report]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Breast carcinoma commonly metastasizes to lymph nodes, bone, lungs, liver, and soft tissues.
• Gastrointestinal or bladder dissemination from breast cancer is exceptionally rare.
• Accurate diagnosis of metastatic lesions is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

• A 63-year-old female presented with acute cholecystitis, revealing a gallbladder nodule during surgery.
• Histopathology confirmed the nodule as a metastasis from a lobular breast carcinoma, diagnosed 15 years prior.
• Immunohistochemistry and E-cadherin staining supported the breast origin and lobular type, differentiating it from cholangiocarcinoma.

Findings:

• The patient had a history of ductal breast carcinoma treated with mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
• Re-evaluation of the mastectomy specimen revealed the initial diagnosis was lobular, not ductal, carcinoma.
• Metastases were identified in the skull, rib cage, spine, and pelvis, confirmed by MRI and bone scan.

Implications:

• This case underscores the potential for late and unusual metastatic patterns of lobular breast carcinoma.
• Accurate histological review is vital, especially in cases with long latency periods.
• Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer metastases can respond to targeted endocrine therapy and bone-modifying agents.