Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report

Occult breast cancer presenting with axillary lymph node metastasis refers to carcinoma of unknown primary origin that is consistent with metastatic breast cancer initially presenting with axillary metastasis, without clinical or imaging evidence of a definitive primary breast tumor. The standard...

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Main Authors: Inyoung Youn, Mi-Ri Kwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Korean Society of Radiology 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2024.0085
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author Inyoung Youn
Mi-Ri Kwon
author_facet Inyoung Youn
Mi-Ri Kwon
author_sort Inyoung Youn
collection DOAJ
description Occult breast cancer presenting with axillary lymph node metastasis refers to carcinoma of unknown primary origin that is consistent with metastatic breast cancer initially presenting with axillary metastasis, without clinical or imaging evidence of a definitive primary breast tumor. The standardized treatment and prognosis of occult breast cancer remain unknown owing to its rarity. Herein, we report a case of a 59-year-old woman with occult breast cancer who presented with axillary metastasis. A comprehensive evaluation, including a thorough review of breast examination findings such as mammography and ultrasonography, breast MRI, lymph node biopsy with immunohistochemistry analysis, additional wholebody PET-CT, and testing for other tumor markers, can be crucial in diagnosing occult breast cancer. Therefore, effective communication among clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists throughout the diagnostic process, along with clear explanations to patients, is crucial for diagnosing this rare occult breast cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-c8ee83ce31e04e33a6fcd69d899806dc2025-08-20T03:08:55ZengThe Korean Society of RadiologyJournal of the Korean Society of Radiology2951-08052025-07-01864537542https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2024.0085Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case ReportInyoung YounMi-Ri KwonOccult breast cancer presenting with axillary lymph node metastasis refers to carcinoma of unknown primary origin that is consistent with metastatic breast cancer initially presenting with axillary metastasis, without clinical or imaging evidence of a definitive primary breast tumor. The standardized treatment and prognosis of occult breast cancer remain unknown owing to its rarity. Herein, we report a case of a 59-year-old woman with occult breast cancer who presented with axillary metastasis. A comprehensive evaluation, including a thorough review of breast examination findings such as mammography and ultrasonography, breast MRI, lymph node biopsy with immunohistochemistry analysis, additional wholebody PET-CT, and testing for other tumor markers, can be crucial in diagnosing occult breast cancer. Therefore, effective communication among clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists throughout the diagnostic process, along with clear explanations to patients, is crucial for diagnosing this rare occult breast cancer.https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2024.0085case reportoccult breast canceraxillary lymph node metastasis
spellingShingle Inyoung Youn
Mi-Ri Kwon
Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report
Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
case report
occult breast cancer
axillary lymph node metastasis
title Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report
title_full Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report
title_fullStr Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report
title_short Occult Breast Cancer Initially Presenting with Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report
title_sort occult breast cancer initially presenting with axillary lymph node metastasis a case report
topic case report
occult breast cancer
axillary lymph node metastasis
url https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2024.0085
work_keys_str_mv AT inyoungyoun occultbreastcancerinitiallypresentingwithaxillarylymphnodemetastasisacasereport
AT mirikwon occultbreastcancerinitiallypresentingwithaxillarylymphnodemetastasisacasereport