Incidental Cardiac Metastasis in Breast Carcinoma

<b>Background and Clinical Significance</b>: 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. <b>Case Presentation</b>: 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. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Diagnostics
Published
2025-12-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16010071
Primary Topic
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Incidental Cardiac Metastasis in Breast Carcinoma

Haibo Wang, Zhiyan Fu, Yaomin Chen, Ellen Elizabeth Connor
Diagnostics
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
article

Incidental Cardiac Metastasis in Breast Carcinoma

Haibo Wang, Zhiyan Fu, Yaomin Chen, Ellen Elizabeth Connor
article en

Abstract

<b>Background and Clinical Significance</b>: 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. <b>Case Presentation</b>: 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. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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.

DiagnosticsVol. 16(1)
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 31%
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
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Incidental Cardiac Metastasis in Breast Carcinoma — Haibo Wang, Zhiyan Fu, et al. · Diagnostics (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS