Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41122452›Full record

ArticleSurgical case reports2025

A Case of Occult Breast Cancer Diagnosed during Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment for Recurrent Metastatic Lung Cancer.

Mio Makino, Hiroki Kusama, Masaru Hagiwara, Yoshiya Horimoto, Eiichi Sato, Norihiko Ikeda, Takashi Ishikawa

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical case reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mio MakinoDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Hiroki KusamaDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Masaru HagiwaraDepartment of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshiya HorimotoDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Eiichi SatoDepartment of Pathology (Medical Research Center), Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Norihiko IkedaDepartment of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
Takashi IshikawaDepartment of Breast Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOccult breast cancer (OBC) is a rare subtype of breast cancer, typically presenting as axillary lymph node metastasis without an identifiable primary tumor in the breast. Axillary lymphadenopathy requires differential diagnosis, including OBC. However, in patients undergoing treatment for another malignancy, distinguishing OBC from axillary metastasis of the known primary cancer can be challenging. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have extended survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), potentially allowing time for 2nd primary cancers to develop and be detected. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman underwent right upper lobectomy for stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma. Four months postoperatively, CT revealed a right chest wall mass and right axillary lymphadenopathy, which was interpreted as recurrence. Systemic therapy was administered, and third-line atezolizumab monotherapy led to complete remission of the chest wall mass; however, progressive enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes was subsequently observed. Imaging showed no detectable lesion in the breast, but core needle biopsy of the axillary node revealed metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma, negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) with a Ki-67 index of 80%. Immunohistochemistry was positive for GATA3 and negative for thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), consistent with OBC. The patient underwent axillary lymph node dissection, and postoperative observation without additional treatment was selected due to comorbidities. She has remained disease-free for 1 year.

conclusionsThis case illustrates that axillary lymphadenopathy during treatment for another malignancy may represent a 2nd primary cancer such as OBC. As ICI therapy prolongs survival, clinicians should pay attention for new malignancies, including breast cancer, even in the absence of breast lesions.

Indexed as

2nd primary malignancyaxillary lymphadenopathyimmune checkpoint inhibitornon-small cell lung canceroccult breast cancer

Identifiers

PMID41122452
PMCPMC12536039

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