Korean J Pain.  2011 Jun;24(2):119-122. 10.3344/kjp.2011.24.2.119.

The Shoulder Pain due to Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Case Report

• Kim SY
• Jung MW
• Kim JM

• KMID: 2074010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2011.24.2.119

Abstract

A rotator cuff tear causes shoulder pain and limits movement of the shoulder joint. A chronic degenerative change or impingement is the reason for a rotator cuff tear. Diagnosis is made based on medical history and, physical and radiological examinations. Other causes of shoulder pain include calcific tendinitis, degenerative arthropathy, joint dislocation, fracture, and primary or metastatic neoplasm. However, metastatic cancer in the shoulder joint is difficult to diagnosis. We experienced a case in which a 46-year-old female patient complained of left shoulder pain and limited joint mobility, and these symptoms were due to metastatic breast cancer in the shoulder.

Keyword

neoplasm metastasis; rotator cuff; shoulder

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Dislocations
Female
Humans
Joints
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Rotator Cuff
Shoulder
Shoulder Joint
Shoulder Pain
Tendinopathy

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance imaging. T2-weighted axial image (A) and coronal image (B) shows osteolytic lesion involving left humeral head and metaphysis.

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