Metastasis of Breast Lobular Carcinoma to the Uterine Cervix: A Narrative Review

Background: Metastases to the uterine cervix from extragenital malignancies represent uncommon clinical events, with breast invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) documented as the predominant primary source in reported literature. Objectives/Aim: To characterize the clinicopathologic features of ILCs metastatic to the uterine cervix. Methods: We performed a PubMed search using several keywords. Results: A total of 29 studies were included in the final analysis. The mean age at presentation of cervical metastasis was 56.8 ± 2.0 years. The mean interval between the initial diagnosis of ILC and the detection of cervical metastasis was 55.6 ± 8.2 months. Clinical presentations included vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and unhealthy enlarged, indurated uterine cervix on local examination. The diagnosis was established via tissue biopsy and immunohistochemical stains (positive reactivity for CK7, ER, PR, E-Cadherin, GATA3, GCDP-15 and mammaglobin). There are no consensus treatment protocols, and therapy should be tailored individually based on the extent of disease. Combined surgical and systemic therapy was the most commonly used modality. Conclusions: Metastasis of breast ILCs to the uterine cervix poses a significant diagnostic challenge. A high index of clinical suspicion and detailed clinical history are essential for accurate diagnosis.