[Disseminated Bone Marrow Carcinomatosis from Breast Cancer Improved by Capecitabine-A Clinical Case Report]

A 63-year-old woman who underwent breast cancer surgery 9 years ago visited our hospital with palpitations. Laboratory examination revealed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography(PET- CT)demonstrated fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG)uptake at several vertebrae, including the pelvis, ribs, and sternum. Accordingly, bone marrow aspiration cytology was performed and atypical large cells were confirmed. After the diagnosis of disseminated carcinomatosis caused by multiple bone metastases from breast cancer, capecitabine monotherapy was started. At 6 months after the diagnosis, the anemia and thrombocytopenia improved to within normal limits. FDG uptake of multiple bones also improved according to PET-CT. Capecitabine administration was stopped at 30 months due to cancer progression. Chemotherapy with docetaxel, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide(EC), and vinorelbine was alternately continued after capecitabine; nevertheless, the cancer progressed gradually. She died at 62 months without either anemia or thrombocytopenia.