Conjonctival melanoma metastatic to the breast: a case report

BMC Res Notes. 2014 Sep 9:7:621. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-621.

Abstract

Background: Breast metastasis is fairly uncommon and prognosis is dismal. Breast metastasis might be the first symptom or may occur during the course of other malignancies dominantly arising from the contralateral breast. Leukemia, lung cancer and conjunctival melanoma may spread to the breast.

Case presentation: A 43-year-old female patient was operated on for conjunctival melanoma. After two years the disease progressed quickly and cutaneous nodes appeared on the back and paraumbilical region. Physical and radiological examination showed a breast mass. No palpable lymph's nodes were noted. She underwent an open biopsy. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed breast metastases from melanoma. During post-operative staging multiple nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal lesions were also objective. The patient was given palliative dacarbazine (250 mg/m2 per day for 4 days) for 4 cycles. She died 4 months after the diagnosis of breast metastases.

Conclusion: Histopathological evaluation should be mandatory in patients with medical history of malignancies in order to differentiate new primary tumors, metastases, and benign tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / administration & dosage*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Melanoma / chemistry
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / secondary*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Palliative Care
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Dacarbazine