Ureter - an unusual site of breast cancer metastasis: A case report

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BCa) is one of the most common malignancies in women; however, ureteral metastasis of BCa has rarely been reported in the literature. CASE SUMMARY: A 55-year-old Chinese woman with an 8-year history of BCa presented with lower back pain that had persisted for 3 mo. The patient underwent bilateral modified radical mastectomy and subclavian and submandibular clearance, and received systemic treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy during treatment. Ureteroscopy did not acquire a satisfactory biopsy. Thus, laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was performed, and ureteral metastases of BCa were pathologically confirmed. As suggested by her oncologist, she continued to receive apatinib. Postoperative 3-mo follow-up indicated further progression of axillary lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: Ureteral metastasis of BCa shows nonspecific symptoms. Diagnosing ureter metastasis from BCa can be established by histopathology and immunohistochemistry.