Ocular metastasis as initial presentation in breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Breast cancer is a common malignancy with various metastatic patterns.
• Ocular metastases are known but infrequent manifestations of advanced breast cancer.
• Retinopathic lesions can indicate underlying systemic disease.

Observation:

• Two patients presented with new-onset vision disturbances.
• Ophthalmological examination revealed characteristic retinopathic lesions.
• Neither patient had a documented history of breast cancer.

Findings:

• Retinopathic lesions were diagnosed as breast cancer metastases.
• These cases represent unusual presentations of metastatic breast cancer.
• The absence of a prior breast cancer diagnosis complicated initial assessments.

Implications:

• Ophthalmologists should consider metastatic breast cancer in patients with unexplained ocular findings.
• Early detection of ocular metastases can aid in timely systemic cancer diagnosis and management.
• This underscores the diverse clinical presentations of breast cancer metastasis.