Liver metastasis in a young female secondary to breast cancer: A case report

• Main Authors: Shaya Yaanallah Al Qahtani, Reem Jaafar Al Argan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Breast cancer; lactic acidosis; liver metastasis; young female
• Online Access: http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2019;volume=7;issue=3;spage=190;epage=194;aulast=Al

Breast cancer is common among females worldwide and is most commonly reported in women aged 30–40 years and less commonly in those aged <30 years. Presentation with liver metastasis is rare in breast cancer at all ages. Lactic acidosis in association with metastatic breast cancer is also rare. Here, the authors report a case of a 26-year-old female who presented with cholestatic jaundice, coagulopathy and ascites. Radiological examination showed evidence of infiltrating liver lesion. Computed tomography-guided liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of breast origin based on the strong estrogen receptor positivity. Chemotherapy could not be initiated because of the patient's critical condition. Unfortunately, the condition deteriorated rapidly, and the patient died secondary to liver failure manifested with disseminated intravascular coagulation and lactic acidosis. This is a rare case of breast cancer in terms of age group (<30 years), site of metastasis at presentation and complication of metastatic breast cancer (type B lactic acidosis), and thus highlights the distinct features of such breast cancers.