Occult Breast Cancer Presenting as Axillary Lymphadenopathy: A Case Report

Occult breast cancer (OBC) is an intriguing entity posing great challenges in diagnosis and treatment. A 58-year-old female was referred to the breast department of our hospital with a metastatic left axillary node from breast carcinoma. Mammography, ultrasound, and MRI of the breast did not reveal any primary breast tumor. According to the decision of the multidisciplinary team, the patient underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT), and hormone therapy. At present, three years later, the patient is free of disease. So far, various treatment options for OBC have been described. Although ALND combined with RT seems to be a safe oncological approach, limited evidence and individualized management in this radiologically occult disease are of paramount importance. Furthermore, awareness of this clinical entity is important for early diagnosis and appropriate management.