Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
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J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Nov 2004
Case ReportsSevere lactic acidosis in a 14-year-old female with metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary.
A 14-year-old girl was found to have a large, non-tender breast mass with anemia and thrombocytopenia. The diagnosis of an undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary was made after open breast biopsy of the mass with negative immunohistochemical studies for breast malignancies. ⋯ Despite 2 months of chemotherapy and intensive supportive care, the patient died of severe lactic acidosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation after exaggerated menstrual bleeding. The association of severe lactic acidosis and undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary in an adolescent has not been previously described.