A young patient in Korea with Krukenberg tumors arising from breast cancer: A case report

Abstract

Metastasis of breast cancer to lung, bone and liver is common, but metastasis to ovaries is rare in Korea. A 31-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer was referred to our department due to a newly detected adnexal mass via abdomen sonography during regular check-up. Imaging studies revealed solid mass on left ovary and enlarged lymph nodes. She underwent a laparotomy including hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, lymphadenectomy, with a suspected impression of primary ovarian neoplasms or Krukenberg tumors. Pathologic fi ndings revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma from breast cancer involving left ovary and paraaortic lymph nodes. To our knowledge, this is the youngest Korean patient with Krukenberg tumors from the breast. In Korea, since the average age affected by breast cancer is younger than in the West, and the incidence and the mortality of breast cancer has increased, possible ovarian metastasis should be kept in mind when Korean patient with breast cancer visits for follow-up. Krukenberg tumors, which refer to metastatic ovarian tumors originating from various sites, account for about 0.7-6.7% of ovarian tumors and 10-30% of malignant ovarian tumors [1,2]. The primary origin sites are usually the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the stomach and colon, the gall bladder/biliary tract, breast and others. In both Asia and the West, most metastatic ovarian tumors originate from the GI tract; others origin show different proportions because of the incidence and commonly affected ages of primary cancer. Ovarian metastasis from breast cancer is not frequent in Asia and breast cancer in Asian women occurs at a younger age between 30 and 40 with locally-advanced stage III disease, unlike the West where women typically present after age 50 with early stage disease. Here we present the case of the youngest patient in Korea with Krukenberg tumors arising from breast cancer. Case ReportA 31-year-old married female (gravida 2, para 2) was diagnosed with left breast cancer involving axillary lymph nodes metastasis CASE REPORT Korean J Obstet Gynecol 2011;54(10):643-646 http://dx