Gastrointestinal Bleeding Unmasking Gastric Metastases From a Primary Breast Malignancy: A Case Report

Thilini Delungahawatta; Richard Hum; Stephanie M Woo; Rashmi Samdani; Mark J Real

doi:10.1155/crgm/2763114

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Unmasking Gastric Metastases From a Primary Breast Malignancy: A Case Report

Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2025 May 3:2025:2763114. doi: 10.1155/crgm/2763114. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Thilini Delungahawatta¹, Richard Hum², Stephanie M Woo³, Rashmi Samdani⁴, Mark J Real³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.

Abstract

Metastases to the gastrointestinal tract from primary breast malignancies are rare. Acute gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with history of breast cancer, however, should raise clinical suspicion and warrant further investigation for metastatic disease involving the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of a 74-year-old female with metastatic breast cancer and provoked thromboembolic events on anticoagulation, who was found to have poorly cohesive gastric carcinoma with immunohistochemistry consistent with primary breast malignancy, after presenting with new-onset melena. Use of anticoagulation may have exacerbated bleeding prompting endoscopic examination. Biopsy and histologic assessment are needed for definitive diagnosis and timely management.

Keywords: anticoagulation; gastrointestinal bleed; gastrointestinal metastatic disease; metastatic breast cancer; mixed breast cancer; stomach neoplasm.

Publication types

Case Reports