Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast with Extensive Metastases : An Autopsy Case Report

A 79・year-oldfemale underwent modified radical mastectomy for cancer of the left breast (stage IIIA) in 2006. Invasive lobular carcinoma was diagnosed on histopathological examination. Postoperative adjuvant therapy included oral administration of an aromatase inhibitor for 5 years and no apparent recurrence was observed at the 5th postoperative year regular checkup. However, we observed extensive gastrointestinal metastases with pleural and peritoneal dissemination 6 years and 4 months postoperatively. Nineteen months after treatment for recurrence was initiated, we were unable to control vesical bleeding due to urinary bladder metastasis and the patient died. The autopsy report suggested that the direct cause of death was postrenal failure accompanied by formation of an intravesical hematoma. In the present report, we review the relevant literature and report the clinical course of a breast cancer patient and the pathological results of her autopsy.