Spontaneous regression of breast carcinoma: A radio-pathological case report and review of the literature

Spontaneous regression (SR) is defined as complete or partial disappearance of a proven malignant tumor without adequate medical treatment. Although there have been reports on SR of breast cancers, this phenomenon remains rare. We report a case of SR of breast cancer in a 62-year-old woman who presented to our hospital with a few months history of a painless breast lump. Initial radiological investigations reveal a suspicious mass in the left upper outer quadrant. Histopathology confirms the presence of invasive cancer. The patient initially refused any surgical or medical interventional and defaulted follow-up. The patient presented again after four months with consent for surgical treatment. Repeat ultrasound just before the hook wire localization procedure demonstrated the absence of tumor in the region of interest. The subsequent repeat mammogram and MRI also demonstrated complete regression of breast cancer. MRI however, does reveal a suspicious left axillary lymph node, which was also deemed suspicious on PET-CT. In view of these findings, the patient was counsel for surgery. The exact mechanism of SR of cancer remains unclear in our patient. We are unable to identify the exact mechanism triggering and influencing the SR in our patient. Our hypotheses include substance within the herbal remedies or a carcinoma-directed immune response triggered by the biopsy. Further research is needed to determine causes for spontaneous regressions of cancer and towards finding a possible cure for cancer.