Skip to main content

Breast cancer scalp metastasis as first metastatic site after scalp cooling: Two cases of occurrence after 7- and 9-year follow-up

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment volume 128, pages 563–566 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is a commonly feared chemotherapy side effect and can be prevented using scalp cooling. Scalp metastasis is a rare site of recurrence. There is a question about whether or not the risk might be increased with the use of scalp cooling. Two cases of breast cancer with scalp metastases as first metastatic site are presented. The first patient presented with a scalp metastasis as first metastatic site 9 years following breast cancer chemotherapy treatments; she used scalp cooling for the adjuvant treatment. Second case presented a scalp metastasis as first metastatic site 7 years following treatments for her first cancer; overall, she used scalp cooling in only one of her six adjuvant chemotherapy cycles. Scalp metastases as the first site of recurrence are very rare entities. Scalp cooling is unlikely to have contributed in the cases presented here.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Abbreviations

CIA:

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia

References

  1. Trueb RM (2009) Chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Semin Cutan Med Surg 28(1):11–14. doi:10.1016/j.sder.2008.12.001

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Grevelman EG, Breed WP (2005) Prevention of chemotherapy-induced hair loss by scalp cooling. Ann Oncol 16(3):352–358. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdi088

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Edelstyn GA, MacDonald M, MacRae KD (1977) Doxorubicin-induced hair loss and possible modification by scalp cooling. Lancet 2(8031):253–254

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hillen HF, Breed WP, Botman CJ (1990) Scalp cooling by cold air for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Neth J Med 37(5–6):231–235

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lemieux J, Amireault C, Provencher L, Maunsell E (2009) Incidence of scalp metastases in breast cancer: a retrospective cohort study in women who were offered scalp cooling. Breast Cancer Res Treat 118(3):547–552. doi:10.1007/s10549-009-0342-0

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lemenager M, Lecomte S, Bonneterre ME, Bessa E, Dauba J, Bonneterre J (1997) Effectiveness of cold cap in the prevention of docetaxel-induced alopecia. Eur J Cancer 33(2):297–300

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ridderheim M, Bjurberg M, Gustavsson A (2003) Scalp hypothermia to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia is effective and safe: a pilot study of a new digitized scalp-cooling system used in 74 patients. Support Care Cancer 11(6):371–377. doi:10.1007/s00520-003-0451-y

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Spaeth D, Luporsi E, Coudert B (2008) Efficacy and safety of cooling helmets for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia: a prospective study of 911 patients (pts). PASCO 26:517s

    Google Scholar 

  9. van den Hurk C, Coebergh J, van de Poll-France L (2008) Some aspects of scalp cooling in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. EJC suppl 6:201

    Google Scholar 

  10. Christodoulou C, Tsakalos G, Galani E, Skarlos DV (2006) Scalp metastases and scalp cooling for chemotherapy-induced alopecia prevention. Ann Oncol 17(2):350. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdj008

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Satterwhite B, Zimm S (1984) The use of scalp hypothermia in the prevention of doxorubicin-induced hair loss. Cancer 54(1):34–37

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gates O (1937) Cutaneous metastases of malignant disease. Am J Cancer 30:718–730

    Google Scholar 

  13. Reingold IM (1966) Cutaneous metastases from internal carcinoma. Cancer 19(2):162–168

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Brownstein MH, Helwig EB (1972) Metastatic tumors of the skin. Cancer 29(5):1298–1307

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Fay T (1938) Correlation of body segmental temperature and its relation to the location of carcinomatous metastasis. Surg Gynecol Obstet 66:512–514

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lookingbill DP, Spangler N, Helm KF (1993) Cutaneous metastases in patients with metastatic carcinoma: a retrospective study of 4020 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 29(2 Pt 1):228–236

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Middleton J, Franks D, Buchanan RB, Hall V, Smallwood J, Williams CJ (1985) Failure of scalp hypothermia to prevent hair loss when cyclophosphamide is added to doxorubicin and vincristine. Cancer Treat Rep 69(4):373–375

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Johansen LV (1985) Scalp hypothermia in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Acta Radiol Oncol 24(2):113–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Witman G, Cadman E, Chen M (1981) Misuse of scalp hypothermia. Cancer Treat Rep 65(5–6):507–508

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Forsberg SA (2001) Scalp cooling therapy and cytotoxic treatment. Lancet 357(9262):1134

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest with the study presented in this article. There was no financing for this study. Authors possess full control of data.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Centre des Maladies du Sein Deschênes-Fabia, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050 chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec City, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada

    Julie Lemieux, Christine Desbiens & Jean-Charles Hogue

  2. Santé des Populations: URESP, Centre de Recherche FRSQ du CHA Universitaire de Québec, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Room JS1-01, Quebec City, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada

    Julie Lemieux & Christine Desbiens

  3. Centre D’hématologie et d’oncologie Universitaire de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada

    Julie Lemieux

  4. Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050 ave de la Médecine, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Julie Lemieux

  5. Département de Chirurgie, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, 1050 ave de la Médecine, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Christine Desbiens

Authors
  1. Julie Lemieux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christine Desbiens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean-Charles Hogue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie Lemieux.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lemieux, J., Desbiens, C. & Hogue, JC. Breast cancer scalp metastasis as first metastatic site after scalp cooling: Two cases of occurrence after 7- and 9-year follow-up. Breast Cancer Res Treat 128, 563–566 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1453-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1453-y

Keywords

  • Scalp cooling
  • Breast cancer
  • Scalp metastasis
  • Chemotherapy-induced alopecia