Cancers metastatic to the breast

Abstract

During a period of 10 years, 51 patients were found to have metastatic cancer in the breast. There were 44 women and seven men. Eighteen patients had carcinoma, 16 had malignant lymphoma, 14 had malignant melanoma, and three had myosarcomas. I t is interesting that 16 of the 51 patients had no prior history of malignant disease-the mammary lesion presenting as the first manifestation of an occult extramammary primary. Metastatic cancer should be suspected when a multinodular neoplasm is found in the superficial tissues of the breast. Forty-one patients had a rapidly fulminating course and died of disease. Ten patients are alive, seven with and three without apparent evidence of disease. It is concluded that earlier recognition of these tumors may lead to more rational therapy and avoidance of unnecessary radical surgery. LTHOUGH PRIMARY MALIGNANT TUMORS OFA the breast are common, tumors metastatic to the breast are rare.2,6.11 The mammary manifestation of extramammary primary neoplasms-known or unknown-should be clinically and histologically distinguished from primary mammary neoplasms.6~7.DJ0The few reported cases in the literature indicate not only the rarity of metastatic mammary tumors but show the limited experience with this condition in any given institution.

Comparison of metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms to the breast and primary invasive mammary carcinomas with neuroendocrine differentiation

“…1,2,5 Stomach, kidney, ovary, lung, and skin are the other common primary sites. [1][2][3][4][5] Metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms to the breast are rare and comprise only 1-2% of all metastatic tumors to the breast. To the best of our knowledge, less than 50 cases have been described to date, primarily in the form of isolated case reports and rare case series.…”

Small-cell lung cancer metastases in breast

“…Although primary breast carcinoma is the most common tumor in women in the world, metastases to the breast from solid tumors are quite rare (2). Although metastases to the breast constitute up to 6% in autopsy series, clinically observed incidence varies from 0.5 to 1.2% of all breast neoplasms (3,4). In a retrospective survey of 14,000 breast malignancies, secondary involvement of breast was found to be 3.2%, but most were metastatic from the contralateral breast carcinomas, and only 0.43% was found to be non-mammary metastases (5).…”

“…Fuster et al (19) found the overall sensitivity and specificity of PET CT in detecting distant metastases to be 100% and 98%, respectively, versus 60% and 83%, respectively, for conventional imaging. Although, secondary breast involvement from solid tumors is rare, a breast mass can be the first manifestation of relapse or part of a disseminated disease, and usually predicts poor survival (3,4,20,21). The mass in left hilar area was stable and progression was only in the breast.…”

A note from history: Landmarks in history of cancer, part 7

“…240 Malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and oat cell carcinoma of the lung are the most common cancers that metastasize to the breast. 241 Clinicopathologic features were identified for distinguishing second primary lung carcinoma from intrapulmonary metastasis. 242 A correlation was observed between the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and a favorable prognosis.…”