Traumatic sigmoid colon rupture due to breast cancer metastasis: a case report

Clin J Gastroenterol. 2023 Dec;16(6):854-858. doi: 10.1007/s12328-023-01859-x. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Abstract

The metastasis of breast cancer to the gastrointestinal tract is rare. Herein, we presented the case of an 85-year-old woman who had a history of invasive lobular carcinoma and experienced complete colon rupture due to relatively low-energy trauma. The patient underwent bilateral total mastectomy and axillary dissection following preoperative chemotherapy 6 years ago. She had a local recurrence 2 years after the surgery and underwent chemotherapy. Subsequently, the cancer metastasized to the thoracolumbar area and retroperitoneum. In addition, the patient fell from a height of 30 cm while hanging laundry and her abdomen hit a hose reel. Emergency surgery was performed, and the entire circumference of the sigmoid colon was ruptured. The ruptured colon lesion was resected, and the stump was closed. A double-barrel transverse colostomy was created as it was impossible to lift the stump up to the abdominal wall. Histopathological examination revealed the invasive lobular carcinoma metastasis and a linitis plastica-like change of the colon wall, which probably consequently weakened. In addition, minimal trauma can damage the gastrointestinal tract that had invasive lobular carcinoma metastasis.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Colonic metastasis; Invasive lobular carcinoma; Traumatic colon rupture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular* / secondary
  • Colon, Sigmoid / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy
  • Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary* / surgery