American Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2017, Vol. 5, No. 12, 301-303
Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajmcr/5/12/5
©Science and Education Publishing
DOI:10.12691/ajmcr-5-12-5
Synchronous Bilateral Breast Cancer (SBBC):
Report of a Case with Review of Literature
Mazaher Ramezani
1
, Akram Amiri
2
, Farhad Kavousi
1
, Masoud Sadeghi
3,*
1
Molecular Pathology Research Center, Emam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
2
Students Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
3
Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
*Corresponding author: Sadeghi_mbrc@yahoo.com
Abstract The incidence of synchronous bilateral invasive breast cancer (SBBC) is reported to range from
0.8%-3.0%. Lower disease-free survival and high rates of distant metastasis is a recognized feature of bilateral
synchronous tumors, which therefore have a worse overall survival compared to unilateral tumors. Early detection of
the contralateral tumor is of utmost importance emphasizing the significance of breast self-examination. Here we
report a case of SBBC with invasive ductal carcinoma on both sides in a 50-year-old lady. The pathology report on
both sides was infiltrating ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ, nuclear grade of ІІ/ІІІ and histologic grade
of II/III. Perineural invasion was present on both sides but vascular invasion only on the right side. In conclusion,
SBBC is rare, but is important because it may have worse prognosis, different hormone receptor status and treatment
modality. Early detection with breast self-examination is highly emphasized.
Keywords: synchronous, bilateral, breast cancer, case report
Cite This Article: Mazaher Ramezani, Akram Amiri, Farhad Kavousi, and Masoud Sadeghi, “Synchronous
Bilateral Breast Cancer (SBBC): Report of a Case with Review of Literature.” American Journal of Medical Case
Reports, vol. 5, no. 12 (2017): 301-303. doi: 10.12691/ajmcr-5-12-5.
1. Introduction
Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) incidence is estimated to
be between 0.3 to 12% [1]. It is categorized as synchronous
bilateral breast cancer (SBBC) or metachronous bilateral
breast cancer (MBBC). The incidence of SBBC is 1% and
that of MBBC 7.0 % [2]. Different publications suggest
the same time to the same year for considering SBBC.
Most of the publications proposed the contralateral tumor
that was detected within the first 6 months as SBBC,
tumors that developed after 6 months as MBBC [3]. The
incidence of SBBC is reported to range from 0.8%-3.0%;
largely reflecting differing definitions used for synchronous
diagnoses, with cutoffs ranging from within 3-12 months
of initial diagnosis [4]. Synchronicity/ meta chronicity are
usually associated with local and lymphatic spread and
with blood-borne spread to lungs, bones, and liver [5].
SBBC is an uncommon presentation, and the management
of patients with this disease is not well established. Lower
disease-free survival and high rates of distant metastasis is
a recognized feature of bilateral synchronous tumors,
which therefore have a worse overall survival compared to
unilateral tumors [6]. In SBBC patients, molecular analysis
showed discordant mutations in all cases, supporting the
diagnosis of de novo bilateral primary BCs. In patients
with lymph node metastases, the primary BC and metastases
shared the same mutations, revealing a metastatic lesion
[7]. Contradictory data exists concerning the prognosis of
patients with SBBC. Most authors report a worse prognosis
for SBBC patients compared to unilateral BC patients.
There are a few studies that did not support these findings
[8]. The data indicate that multifocal (MF), multicentric
(MC), and SBBCs are more aggressive and have an
equivalent or moderately poorer survival rate compared
with unilateral cases [9]. Here we report a case of SBBC
with invasive ductal carcinoma on both sides in a 50-year-old
lady.
2. Case Report
A 50-year-old lady was admitted in surgery department
with chief complaint of bilateral palpable breast masses
since 6 months ago on June 7
th
, 2016. The masses were
non-tender and without discharge. She was a housewife,
married and was living in a village near Harseen, a city in
Kermanshah province, Iran. She was the first of the seven
sisters. There was no family history except for cystic
lesion of the breast in the 4
th
sister without any treatment
or follow-up. There was no past medical or drug
history. She was not smoker or opium addict. Physical
examination was unremarkable except for bilateral breast
masses measuring about 5.5 and 5 cm in right and left
breasts, respectively. The patient underwent surgery on
June 9
th
2016 with frozen section study. On the right side,
the gross specimen consisted of a piece of fibro-fatty
tissue measuring 5*4*1.5 cm containing two firm masses
measuring 2.5 and 1.6 cm with fatty tissue invasion. On
the left side, the gross specimen consisted of a piece of
fibro-fatty tissue measuring 4*3*1 cm with a firm creamy