Affiliations: [a] Breast Caner Surgery Unit, Army General Hospital, Athens, Greece | [b] IASO Women’s Hospital, Athens, Greece | [c] IASO Thessalias Hospital, Larissa, Greece | [d] Department of Medical Oncology, Army General Hospital, Athens, Greece | [e] Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Larissa University Hospital, Larissa, Greece
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Nikolaos S. Salemis, MD, Ph.D., FACS, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Head of 2nd Department of Surgery, & Breast Cancer Surgery Unit Army General Hospital, 19 Taxiarhon Street, 19014 Kapandriti, Athens, Greece. Tel.: +30 2107494277; E-mail: nikos.salemis@gmail.com
Abstract: Breast carcinoma en cuirasse is a very rare form of cutaneous metastases of breast cancer. The clinical presentation is that of a diffuse indurated carcinomatous infiltration of the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the mammary region and the anterior aspect of the chest. In most cases, breast carcinoma en cuirasse develops post-mastectomy and represents a dramatic presentation of an aggressive tumor associated with a dismal prognosis. Because of the rarity of this type of malignancy, the optimal approach to treatment has not been clearly defined. The systemic treatment has been associated with limited efficacy, and the primary goal is palliative care and preservation of the quality of life through skin-directed therapies. Herein, a very rare case of primary breast carcinoma en cuirasse is presented, along with a review of the literature. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of any potential skin metastases of breast cancer are essential to prevent the catastrophic natural progression of the disease.
Keywords: Breast carcinoma, cutaneous, metastases, en cuirasse
DOI: 10.3233/BD-201020
Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 39, no. 3-4, pp. 155-159, 2020
