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An Unusual Case of Scalp Metastasis from Breast Cancer
Yu-Fei Liu1, Ling-Yu Liu2, Shi-Lin Xia3
1Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Background:
The most common sites of breast cancer metastases are the bone, lung, liver, and brain. Scalp involvement in breast cancer metastasis is extraordinarily rare.
Case Description:
This study reports a 52-year-old woman who had a history of malignant right breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed a soft tissue nodule measuring 1 × 0.7 cm located subcutaneously on the top left side of the scalp. A scalp mass excision operation was performed with an extended "S"-shaped incision, and the mass was sent for pathology. Immunohistochemistry showed the following results: CK7: +; ER: 2+, 90%; GATA3: +; GCDFP-15: scattered cells+; mammaglobin: -, napsin A: -; and TTF-1: -. These results were consistent with the characteristics of primary right breast cancer, supporting scalp metastasis from breast cancer.
Conclusions:
Scalp metastasis from breast cancer is an exceedingly infrequent phenomenon. Close attention should be paid to soft tissue masses in patients with a healthy appearance and in those with a history of malignant cancer. When neurosurgeons operate on the mass, the circumscription and depth of the tumor must be given further attention.
