2025 Poster Presentations
P160: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMA, MENINGIOMA, AND BREAST CANCER: A TWO-PATIENT CASE STUDY
Maxwell A Marino, DO, MPH1; Ali O Jamshidi, MD2; Fernando A Torres, MD3; 1Riverside University Health System, Moreno Valley; 2Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Woodland Hills; 3Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Los Angeles
The co-occurrence of benign brain tumors such as Vestibular Schwannoma and meningioma with breast cancer has rarely been discussed in the literature. This case series highlights two patients with large, symptomatic benign tumors: vestibular Schwannoma and the other with a meningioma, both classified as WHO Grade 1 tumors. Both patients developed breast cancer shortly after their surgeries. The objective of this study is to explore potential links between these two conditions and discuss whether large, symptomatic brain tumors could indicate an associated risk of developing breast cancer and perhaps harboring Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
The first patient, a 34-year-old female, underwent resection of a left cerebellopontine angle vestibular Schwannoma and was later diagnosed with breast cancer. Post-surgery imaging showed no residual Schwannoma. After this diagnosis, the patient presented with ER/PR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer, subsequently undergoing mastectomy and chemotherapy. The second patient, a 49-year-old female, underwent resection of a right middle fossa meningioma and later developed invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Following the breast cancer diagnosis, she received adjuvant hormonal therapy. Both tumors (vestibular Schwannoma and meningioma) were benign, but the patients’ subsequent development of breast cancer raises important questions regarding potential correlations between benign brain tumors and breast cancer and the role of neurosurgeons in informing patients about proceed with cancer screening testing.
There is growing interest in exploring the links between benign brain tumors, such as Schwannomas and meningiomas, and breast cancer. Shared genetic pathways, particularly the involvement of hormone receptors such as estrogen and progesterone, have been proposed. Both Schwannomas and meningiomas are known to express hormone receptors, which may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer in patients with these tumors. While larger studies are needed, this case series raises awareness of a possible connection and suggests the need for closer surveillance of breast cancer risk in patients with large symptomatic brain tumors.
These cases illustrate the need to further investigate potential associations between benign brain tumors like vestibular Schwannomas and meningiomas and subsequent breast cancer development. Genetic and hormonal factors may play a role in the shared pathophysiology, and early breast cancer screening should be considered for patients diagnosed with these brain tumors.