Incisional metastatic breast carcinoma deposit in a total knee replacement presenting as peri-prosthetic joint infection—a case report

Cutaneous metastasis from the primary breast carcinoma occurs when the disease is wide spread and can present as skin infection especially in a previous well-healed scar. If the secondary deposit is over a total knee incisional site it can mimic peri-prosthetic joint infection. We report a rare and unusual case of a woman who presented with clinical signs and symptoms of a peri-prosthetic total knee replacement which on biopsy turned out to be cutaneous metastasis from a previously treated breast cancer. Chronic granulation tissue in a total joint incisional scar may present as peri-prosthetic joint infection. A good history taking and clinical examination with specimens from the skin lesions send for both microbiology and histopathology is recommended to arrive at an early and accurate diagnosis.