Breast Metastasis From Cervical Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Mimicking Primary Breast Cancer.

Authors

Gladys Bruyninx, Erica Patocskai, Lilia Maria Sanchez, Mona El Khoury, Ahmad Kaviani

Published in

Cureus. Volume 18. Issue 9. Pages e115684. Epub Sep 02, 2026.

Abstract

We describe a case of breast metastasis originating from a small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) of the uterine cervix, an uncommon presentation that can be difficult to distinguish from a primary breast malignancy. We report a 29-year-old woman treated three years earlier for FIGO stage IB2 cervical SCNEC with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, who presented with a 1.5-cm mass in the left breast. Imaging suggested a primary breast malignancy, but her oncologic history raised concern for metastasis. Core-needle biopsy showed a high-grade small-cell neoplasm expressing synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and CD56, with a high Ki-67 index (>80%); breast-lineage markers, including GATA3 and mammaglobin, were negative. Whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) showed an isolated hypermetabolic breast lesion without other disease. Nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction was performed, followed by platinum-etoposide chemotherapy; at 18 months, there was no evidence of recurrence. Breast metastasis from cervical SCNEC can mimic primary breast cancer; diagnosis relies on integrating clinical history, imaging, and immunohistochemistry. Selected patients with isolated disease may benefit from individualised multimodal therapy.

PMID:
42829790
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Oct 2026.

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