Autopsy revealed cardiac metastasis in a woman with breast carcinoma, despite no clinical or imaging evidence of cardiac involvement during her illness.
This case highlights that cardiac metastasis from breast cancer can be entirely asymptomatic and clinically occult, posing a significant diagnostic challenge.
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%
Background and Clinical Significance: Metastatic breast cancer is a major global health burden, with common metastatic sites including the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Cardiac metastasis is rare and often clinically silent, leading to underdiagnosis. Recognizing cardiac involvement, even when asymptomatic, is important for understanding the full extent of disease and ensuring optimal patient care. Case Presentation: We report the case of a woman with advanced breast carcinoma who showed no clinical or imaging evidence of cardiac involvement throughout the course of her illness. Following her death from progressive metastatic disease, an autopsy revealed metastatic carcinoma infiltrating the myocardium and epicardium without gross cardiac abnormalities. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the tumor’s origin from breast carcinoma. Conclusions: This case illustrates the potential for clinically occult cardiac metastasis in breast cancer and underscores the importance of pathological examination in detecting hidden metastatic sites. The absence of cardiac symptoms or imaging abnormalities highlights the diagnostic challenge of this rare manifestation and the need for greater awareness in managing advanced malignancies.
Chen et al. (Thu,) reported a other. Autopsy revealed cardiac metastasis in a woman with breast carcinoma, despite no clinical or imaging evidence of cardiac involvement during her illness.
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