Aspiration Cytology of Extramammary Tumors Metastatic to the Breast

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the cytomorphologic features of metastatic breast tumors and to assess the utility of fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosing these tumors. The study group comprised five females and one male, all presenting with a breast mass. Their ages ranged between 35 and 65 years. FNAC of the breast mass was done in all cases. Three of the cases were previously diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (MCA) of the ovary, and melanoma. Three cases presented initially with a breast mass. These included melanoma, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and plasmacytoma. The diagnosis of NHL was confirmed on histology. The patient with plasmacytoma presented primarily with a breast lump but subsequently developed multiple myeloma, and in one case of melanoma the primary tumor was detected after breast metastases. Preoperative FNAC of extramammary tumors metastatic to the breast is invaluable because the management of the patient differs entirely from that of a primary neoplasm. An accurate diagnosis can be made with the help of clinical and radiological correlation. If available, a perusal of previous history and biopsy material may prove useful. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:319–323. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Metastasis to the breast from extramammary malignancies: a report of four cases and a review of literature

“…Ultrasound and MRI may provide useful information evaluating the breast metastases in dense breasts of young patients with sarcomas [20,34]. Breast metastatic deposits were correctly distinguished from primary breast cancer on cytology in three cases, as has been previously reported [10,11,19,20,27,28,32,39]. Cor- relation between the cytological findings of breast lesions and the histology of primary tumours was useful in confirming the diagnosis of breast metastases in cases 1 and 3.…”

Metastatic Disease to the Breast From Extramammary Malignancies: A Multimodality Pictorial Review

“…6,7 An exception that may demonstrate associated calcifications is metastatic ovarian cancer. 8,9 Unlike primary breast cancer, breast metastases do not demonstrate spiculated margins. This is because they do not cause the desmoplastic reaction, which occurs with invasive ductal carcinoma.…”

A Rarely Seen Pathology in Breast Masses: Malignant Melanoma

“…Malignant melanoma and the breast can be interrelated in various ways as; primary melanoma of breast skin, melanoma metastasis to the breast, intransit metastasis to the breast tissue and breast skin, and finally primary breast melanoma (3)(4)(5)(6). The decision; whether any mass in the breast is primary or metastatic; is of great significance for the subsequent choice of therapy.…”