Pleomorphic Appearance of Breast Cancer Cutaneous Metastases

48 Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) combines the administration of poorly permeable chemotherapeutic agents with electroporation. It has been shown to be effective when compared with other treatments. This study assessed how breast cancer patients were benefited and identified potential problems at a designated treatment centre. Methods: This was a single centre prospective study of patients with cutaneous metastases from breast cancer. Patients who fulfilled NICE UK (National Institute Of Clinical Excellence) and local guidelines were treated. Gabapentin was given prior to general anaesthesia. Intravenous Bleomycin 15,000IU/m2 was given as a bolus. Treatment was commenced 8 minutes later with Cliniporator. Electrical pulses were delivered via an electrode inserted through the skin surface. Treatment response, disease progression free duration, post-operative pain and length of in-patient stay (LOS) were recorded. Patients recorded a symptom diary post treatment. Results: 20 treatments were performed in 16 patients from 2011-2015 with 53 separate areas treated. 8 patients had diffuse lesions, 5 had discrete lesions and 3 had both diffuse and discrete areas. 16 patients were being treated with ECT for the first time and 4 patients required 2 treatments. Median LOS was 3 days. Median follow up was 6 months (range 3-12).12 patients had complete response (75%) and 4 patients partial response. There was no disease progression for 6 months or more in 9 patients (56%) and 2 further patients had disease stabilised for 3 months with systemic or cutaneous progression in the remaining patients in 3 months or less. There were no deaths or immediate adverse events from ECT. 5 Patients (31%) with extensive diffuse chest wall disease reported persistent discomfort post treatment requiring extended period of post treatment analgesia. Conclusions: Electrochemotherapy is safe and effective treatment for cutaneous metastases. Appropriate patient selection for treatment, pre-emptive analgesia, post treatment support and follow up is essential in order to maximise the benefits and minimise potential side-effects particularly in extensive chest wall disease.

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Erratum to: Effective treatment of intractable cutaneous metastases of breast cancer with electrochemotherapy: a useful contributor to cutaneous disease control

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment ◽

10.1007/s10549-017-4307-4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 164 (1) ◽

pp. 251-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Bourke ◽

D. Soden ◽

A. J. P. Clover

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Disease Control ◽

Effective Treatment ◽

Cutaneous Metastases ◽

Cutaneous Disease

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Case Report: Carcinoma en Cuirasse in a Middle-Aged Woman Mimicking Postirradiation Morphea

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.747123 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Haiqing Wang ◽

Chengbei Bao ◽

Ting Gong ◽

Chao Ji

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Radiation Dermatitis ◽

Cutaneous Metastases ◽

Aged Woman ◽

Natural Progression ◽

Middle Aged Woman ◽

Rare Malignancy ◽

Treatment Consensus

Breast carcinoma en cuirasse (CeC) is an extremely rare form of cutaneous metastases of breast cancer, characterized by diffuse sclerodermoid induration of the skin. It may be difficult to distinguish CeC from some skin diseases, including postirradiation morphea, inflammatory breast cancer, radiation dermatitis, and other cutaneous metastases, but it can be easily discerned by histology. Because of the small number of documented cases, the treatment consensus has not been clearly defined. Here, we show a 45-year-old woman with grade III infiltrating ductal carcinoma manifesting as CeC to the chest wall. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent the catastrophic natural progression of this rare malignancy.

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Secondary Alopecia Neoplastica Mimicking Alopecia Areata following Breast Cancer

Case Reports in Oncology ◽

10.1159/000507694 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 627-632

Author(s):

Efthymia Skafida ◽

Ioanna Triantafyllopoulou ◽

Ioannis Flessas ◽

Michael Liontos ◽

Konstantinos Koutsoukos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Alopecia Areata ◽

Private Practice ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Cutaneous Metastases ◽

Gastrointestinal Metastasis ◽

Lobular Cancer ◽

History Of ◽

Uncommon Case ◽

Metastatic Sites

Cutaneous metastases from visceral carcinomas are relatively uncommon, with an overall incidence ranging from 0.7 to 9%. Diagnosis of scalp metastases usually escapes clinicians and dermatologists due to the fact that these metastases are mimicking other benign dermatological conditions. Herein, we present an uncommon case of scalp alopecia neoplastica mimicking alopecia areata due to breast cancer; a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with lobular cancer 3 years previously presented with acute loss of hair in well-circumscribed areas of the scalp and was diagnosed with alopecia areata by a private-practice dermatologist. She was then reevaluated, and due to her history of breast cancer, a biopsy from the scalp was performed and revealed alopecia neoplastica. At the same time that the skin lesions were recognized as disease involvement, the patient presented with dyspepsia, and endoscopy of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract also revealed metastasis to the stomach and bowel. Gastrointestinal metastasis may occur with several types of cancer, but the stomach and bowel are rare metastatic sites for breast cancer.

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