Micropapillary Bladder Cancer Metastatic to the Breast: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) usually metastasizes to the lymph nodes, bone, lung, liver and peritoneum, but rarely in the breast.

Case report: We present a case of a 66-year-old female diagnosed with a massive bladder tumor, who presented a right mammary nodule after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. A biopsy of the nodule did not permit a definite diagnosis of metastatic spread, which was confirmed by excision of the nodule. In the literature, we found only 7 other similar cases of BC metastasis to the breast. Currently, a non-invasive method for differentiating a breast metastasis from primary cancer is lacking, although there are some clinical and radiological aspects that may help the diagnosis. Histological examination provides diagnostic certainty.

Conclusion: Breast metastases from BC are unusual and consequently difficult to identify without non-invasive tools. Clinical history and histological study play a pivotal role in determining the correct diagnosis.

Keywords: Metastasis; breast cancer; immunotherapy; neoadjuvant therapy; urothelial cancer.