Intraocular breast metastasis: a case report

Abstract

Breast cancer accounts for approximately 16% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in the Philippines. Among these, 5% are metastatic at presentation. The eye is an atypical location for metastatic spread from breast cancer. A 53-year-old Filipino female presented with a breast mass with concomitant blurring of vision. Further work-up showed invasive ductal carcinoma with bone metastasis. Ophthalmologic examination showed an intraocular mass with associated exudation and retinal detachment, which explained the blurring of vision. Chemotherapy for the breast cancer subsequently reduced tumor mass of both breast and eye, with progression of both after first line chemotherapy. Clinicians should be wary of patients presenting with a known primary mass lesion with associated ophthalmologic complaints. The possibility of metastatic disease in these patients should warrant ophthalmologic screening to possibly prevent the deterioration of the quality of life of these patients.