BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma, a hyperendemic disease in Taiwan with an age-adjusted incidence 27.7/100,000 per annum, continues to be the leading cause of cancer-rate death among men and the second among women in Taiwan. Breast metastasis from non-mammary malignant neoplasm is rare, accounting for approximately 2% of breast tumors. Breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma has never been reported. METHODOLOGY: The medical records of three patients with breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Taipei were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The study comprised one male patient and two female patients with ages ranging from 41 to 73 years (median: 53 years). All three patients had cirrhotic liver. The interval between diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and breast metastasis ranged from 0 to 40 months (median 20 months). All three patients displayed extrahepatic metastasis when breast metastases were diagnosed. All three patients expired within one month after diagnosis of the breast metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma is rare and hematogenous route is the mode of spread. It represents an extremely advanced stage of hepatocellular carcinoma and the prognosis is dismal.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma, a hyperendemic disease in Taiwan with an age-adjusted incidence 27.7/100,000 per annum, continues to be the leading cause of cancer-rate death among men and the second among women in Taiwan. Breast metastasis from non-mammary malignant neoplasm is rare, accounting for approximately 2% of breast tumors. Breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma has never been reported. METHODOLOGY: The medical records of three patients with breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Taipei were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The study comprised one male patient and two female patients with ages ranging from 41 to 73 years (median: 53 years). All three patients had cirrhotic liver. The interval between diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and breast metastasis ranged from 0 to 40 months (median 20 months). All three patients displayed extrahepatic metastasis when breast metastases were diagnosed. All three patients expired within one month after diagnosis of the breast metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Breast metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma is rare and hematogenous route is the mode of spread. It represents an extremely advanced stage of hepatocellular carcinoma and the prognosis is dismal.