Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

Breast Cancer is the most common malignancy associated with Cutenous metastasis. Cancer en Cuirasse is the term used to describe a rare dramatic and extensive clinical presentation of Cutenous Metastasis from Breast Carcinoma that is very rarely manifest as the primary presentation of the underlying cancer. In the present paper, we report a rare condition of Cancer en Cuirasse in a 43-year-old lady who is totally unaware of her underlying pathology. The case story and diagnosis are presented and discussed along with recent management options and appropriate literature reference.
KEYWORDS: breast carcinoma,cutenous metastasis , advanced breast carcinoma, cancer en cuirasse
INTRODUCTION:
Cutaneous Metastasis (CM) is a phenomenon that can associate internal organ malignancies and it is often a sign of advanced tumor stage (1).
Breast cancer (BC) is not only the most common malignancy in women, but it is also the most common cancer that is associated with CM and account for about 70% of the sources followed by the colonic cancer, malignant melanoma and ovarian/cervical cancers in this order (1). About 25% of women with breast BC will develop a sort of CM in the life time of the disease (2, 3).
Cancer en Cuirasse (CEC) is the term used to describe a rare dramatic and extensive clinical presentation of CM from BC (4). Lymphatics invaded by cancer cells become obstructed resulting in extensive thickening, oedema and fibrosis of the dermis and subdermis of the chest wall (5). It is usually seen as a local recurrence after mastectomy for BC but may rarely be seen as the presenting feature of an underlying BC (4, 5).


*ALmustansiriyah Medical College / Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital.
**Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital.

In the present report; we document a case of CEC in a 43-year-old lady who present for the first time with a frank extensive clinical picture of the disease. The case history and clinical findings are presented and the condition discussed with the appropriate reference to the literature