Orbital and conjunctival metastasis from lobular breast carcinoma.

ABSTRACT

This article examines the clinical presentation of ocular metastasis from an infiltrating lobular breast carcinoma. We examined a conjunctival biopsy from a 69-year-old woman who developed unilateral conjunctival inflammation together with a neurotrophic corneal ulcer and proptosis. Infiltrating lobular breast carcinoma (ILBC) was diagnosed using routine histology and immunohistochemistry. She had a past history of a hormone receptor-positive infiltrating ILBC 11 years ago with cutaneous and diffuse osteoblastic metastases, and she was kept under treatment with lezotrol. Treatment was initiated with systemic corticosteroids but an annular conjunctival perilimbal infiltration was found to have spread, which did not respond either to local radiotherapy (total dose 60 Gy, 2 Gy per day). A new extensive corneal epithelial defect recurred, and because it had not responded to matrix therapy agent (RGTA, Cacicol®) eye drops, autologous serum eye drops and a therapeutic contact lens, a permanent total tarsorrhaphy was performed. Progression of the diffuse bone metastases was detected and the treatment with lezotrol was replaced by fulvestrant.Infiltrating lobular breast carcinoma is a rare cause of conjunctival metastasis. This aggressive malignancy did not respond to external beam radiotherapy.