Occult Breast Cancer: A Diagnostic Dilemma. Case Report and Literature Review

Sanaz Ghafouri and Alexandra Drakaki

UCLA Medicial Center, USA

^*Correspondance to: Sanaz Ghafouri 

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Abstract:

Background: Occult breast cancer, or histologically-proven breast cancers without an identifiable primary breast cancer, is a rare disease. It remains challenging for clinicians to diagnose and treat it as there are currently no standardized diagnostic or treatment approach to patients with occult breast cancers.Patient Description: We report a case of a 59-year-old female with dyspnea and increased oxygen requirements, who on further investigation was found to have pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis, axillary and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, which was ultimately diagnosed as hormone positive occult breast cancer. She responded well to palliative hormone therapy and returned to baseline functional status and to breathing on room air.Conclusion: This case is a unique and unusual presentation of breast cancer that highlights the importance of recognizing that primary malignancies of unknown origin do exist. In this case, the patient was fortunate enough both to have her malignancy discovered early based on symptoms of metastasis and to have hormone positive disease that is more responsive to palliative endocrine therapies. However, there needs to be a clearer approach to diagnosing and treating occult breast cancers.

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Cite the Article:

Ghafouri S, Drakaki A. Occult Breast Cancer: A Diagnostic Dilemma. Case Report and Literature Review. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2018; 3: 1536.