Inflammatory breast carcinoma associated with thrombus in transit through the right atrium and pulmonary thromboembolism at diagnosis

Abstract

Inflammatory breast cancer represents from 1 to 4% of cases of invasive breast carcinoma, showing increased aggressiveness and mortality, higher rates of lymph node involvement and high incidence of metastases at diagnosis and during the first two years of evolution. The rate of venous thromboembolism in breast cancer patients is not well defined, being at lower levels when compared to other sites of cancer. The presence of comorbidities, older age, and especially the stage of the disease appear to be important risk factors for the occurrence of thromboembolic events in women with breast carcinoma. Here, we aim to report an inflammatory breast carcinoma case associated with the unusual presence of thrombus in transit through the right atrium and pulmonary embolism at diagnosis. Due to its severity, thromboembolic phenomena must be suspected and not overlooked in cancer patients, in the presence of possible signs and symptoms correlated.