Metastatic breast cancer involving the skin treated as shingles: A case report and call to action

Abstract

We report a case drawing attention to a potentially misleading presentation of cutaneous metastasis of breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy as a result of residual disease. The patient presented with as a pruritic rash extending across the chest and back. It was papulovesicular with surrounding well-defined erythema along the suture sites of the reconstructed breast. Initially treated as shingles, the case points to a boxed approach to patients without adequate consideration of pertinent information gathered from their history and examination, analyzed in appropriate context. Clinicians would benefit from refraining from adhering to the typical and being ready to make personalized assessments of their patients. Additionally, consulting colleagues from an educational perspective without breaching patient privacy in matters that pose an atypical challenge may lead to accurate assessments and better overall care. We also emphasize the importance of establishing state-of-the art care standards and better quality-control mechanisms in regions without universal practice guidelines applicable to all institutions.