Synchronous Colon and Breast Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

Turkish Abstract

Introduction

Management of solid tumors in different synchronous locations is an interesting clinical scenario. To which tumor intervention should first be made and how to continue treatment is decided according to the independent risk of each tumor. In these cases, it is necessary to act with a multidisciplinary team consisting of an oncologist, surgeon, radiologist and pathologist ¹.

The case  is here presented of a patient treated and followed for synchronous colon and breast cancer with the approaches discussed in the light of the relevant literature.

Case Report

A 67-year old female patient was admitted to the general surgery outpatient clinic due to complaints of a mass in the right breast, rectal bleeding and weight loss. On physical examination, a mass approximately 2 cm in size was determined in the right breast. On mammography, a 15x25 mm-sized BIRADS-5 lesion was observed in the right upper quadrant of the right breast. The biopsy result was evaluated as invasive ductal carcinoma. Progesterone and estrogen receptors were evaluated as positive and the C-erb-B2 result as negative. On colonoscopy examination, a mass was observed in the rectosigmoid junction (Figure 1).

Figure 1  Colonoscopic view of the lesion

The histopathology result was evaluated as adenocarcinoma. No metastasis was detected on thorax and abdominal tomography. Bone scintigraphy showed no appearance compatible with metastasis. The carcinoembryogenic antigen level was 1.19 µg / L, and the cancer antigen 125 value was 9.3 kU / L. The decision for surgery was taken by the multidisciplinary tumor board. The patient underwent a right modified radical mastectomy. Anterior resection and colocolonic anastomosis were performed after 1 month due to colon cancer. No complications were observed after either operation, and the patient was discharged on the 7th day after colon surgery. The breast histopathology examination was reported as invasive ductal carcinoma. Progesterone and estrogen receptors were evaluated as positive and the C-erb-B2 result was negative. The pathological stage was T2N0M0 according to TNM-8, and stage IIA. In the histopathology report of the colon cancer, it was evaluated as T4aN2b and stage IIIC.

Discussion

Multiple primary cancers represent 16% of new cancer diagnoses ². The study of Liu et al. showed a 7% prevalence ³. Most of these are diagnosed with two primary cancers, but in the literature, there are reported cases of three, four and five cancers in the same patient ². It is difficult to explain the synchronous observation of breast cancer and colorectal cancer through metallothioneins because down-regulation is observed in colorectal cancer while overexpression is observed in breast cancer. There is no known factor for tumorgenesis between these two tumors ⁴, although a family history of cancer may be a determining factor in synchronous cancers ⁵. In a study by Kimura et al., family history was shown to be a determining factor for synchronous cancer ⁶. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome has been associated with colon and breast cancer, with multiple hamartamatous polyps in the small intestine and mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation ⁵. In the current case, there were no factors indicating the possibility of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Since there is no specific consensus guideline for synchronous tumors, treatment is applied according to the decision of the multidisciplinary tumor council. The prognosis of synchronous tumors is evaluated separately according to the stage of each tumor. If managed correctly, the prognosis of these types of cases is no worse than for single primary tumors ⁷. To be able to perform the next surgery in as short a time as possible, time, the tumour with  lower morbidity should be operated on first ⁸. In the current case, modified radical mastectomy was performed primarily as that has lower morbidity and there was no ileus in this case. The treatment applied for both malignancies was seen to be effective, and 7-year survival was observed.

In conclusion, breast cancer and colon cancer are rarely observed synchronously. Since there is no specific treatment algorithm, treatment should be decided by a multidisciplinary oncology council. Surgery should be performed primarily on the tumour with lower morbidity, and when an effective treatment plan is implemented, survival is no worse than for a single malignancy.

References

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