Breast Cancer in Two Patients with Poland's Syndrome

• Published in: Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 127 - 130
• Main Authors: Fukushima, T, Otake, T, Yashima, R, Nihei, M, Takeuchi, S, Kimijima, I, I, Tsuchiya, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 25-04-1999
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02966919
• EISSN: 1880-4233
• ISSN: 1340-6868

Poland fs syndrome is characterized by a congenital defect of the pectoralis major associated with various types of anomalies of the ipsilateral upper extremity. Furthermore, there have been reports of Poland fs syndrome associated with malignancies such as leukemia, malignant lymphoma, and leiomyosarcoma. We describe two cases of Poland fs syndrome associated with breast cancer. The first patient developed right breast cancer associated with ipsilateral breast hypoplasia, defects of the pectoralis major and minor, and syndactyly. She underwent mastectomy and dissection of the axillary nodes. The second patient had left breast cancer associated with ipsilateral breast hypoplasia, defects of the pectoralis major and minor, and syndactyly. She underwent breast-conserving surgery and dissection of the axillary nodes without irradiation of the breast. Both patients are currently alive and free of disease. Although previously there has been no evidence that links Poland fs syndrome and breast cancer, elucidating the molecularmechanism that causes Poland fs syndrome may further clarify the relationship between Poland fs syndrome and malignancies.