Breast cancer metastatic to the vulva after local recurrence occurring on a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Vulvar metastases are the third largest group of malignant tumors of the vulva. We report the tenth case of breast cancer vulvar metastases arising 11 years after the primary diagnosis of breast ductal carcinoma and the first occurring eight years after a local recurrence on a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old woman presented with a voluminous lump of the left labium majus and enlargement of the ipsilateral inguinal lymph nodes. The mass was removed together with the ipsilateral inguinal lymph nodes. Microscopic evaluation of the removed lump revealed massive carcinomatous infiltration. No in situ lesions nor normal breast tissue were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: Unusual breast cancer metastases sites should not be ruled out. Our case differs from the preceding cases because this patient underwent plastic surgery with reconstruction of the breast with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap one year after mastectomy and developed a local recurrence three years thereafter. It can be hypothesized that lymphatic spread through newly formed lymphatics occurred.