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Journal of General Internal Medicine
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine 5/2007

01-05-2007 | Case Reports/Clinical Vignettes

Breast Cancer Presenting as Unilateral Arm Edema

Authors: Shaheen Zakaria, MD, Ruth Johnson, MD, Barbara A. Pockaj, MD, Amy C. Degnim, MD

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 5/2007

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Context

Symptomatic arm lymphedema as the presenting symptom of invasive breast carcinoma is a rare occurrence.

Design

We report a case of invasive breast cancer presenting with unilateral arm swelling. The patient was initially thought to have venous thrombosis. A thorough physical examination and a mammogram revealed the presence of breast cancer and associated subclinical axillary lymphadenopathy.

Conclusion

Failure to recognize this presentation can lead to misdiagnosis or a significant delay in diagnosis and treatment.
Literature
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Osteen RT, Cady B, Chmiel JS, et al. National survey of carcinoma of the breast by the commission on cancer. J Am Coll Surg. 1991;178(3):213–9.
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Abu-Dalu J, Weinberger E, Weiss A, Urca I. Lymphedema of the upper limb as the presenting symptom of breast carcinoma. [Hebrew] Harefuah. 1975;88(4):161–2.PubMed
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Shannon C, Walsh G, Sapunar F, ÁHern R, Smith I. Occult primary breast carcinoma presenting as axillary lymphadenopathy. Breast. 2002;11:414–8.PubMedCrossRef
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Humphrey LL, Helfand M, Chan BK, Woolf SH. Breast cancer screening: a summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Int Med. 2002;137(5 Part 1):347–60.PubMed
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Brill KL, Brenin, DR. Occult breast cancer and axillary mass. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2001;2:149–55.PubMedCrossRef
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Pfeifer RB, Barber WH. Inflammatory breast cancer presenting with acute central venous thrombosis: a case report. Am Surg. 2002;68(6):579–81.
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Levi I, Baum M. Mondor’s disease as a presenting symptom of breast cancer. BJS. 1987;74(8):700.CrossRef
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Fassett DR, Couldwell WT. Metastases to the pituitary gland. Neurosurg Focus. 2004;16(4):1–4.
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Hepp HH, Hoos A, Leppien G, Wallwiener D. Breast cancer metastatic to the uterine cervix: analysis of a rare event. Cancer Inv. 1999;17(7):468–73.CrossRef
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Drenth JP, de Kleijn EH, de Mulder PH, van der Meer JW. Metastatic breast cancer presenting as fever, rash, and arthritis. Cancer. 1995;75(7):1608–11.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Breast Cancer Presenting as Unilateral Arm Edema
Authors
Shaheen Zakaria, MD
Ruth Johnson, MD
Barbara A. Pockaj, MD
Amy C. Degnim, MD
Publication date
01-05-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue 5/2007
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0077-0

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