Malignant melanoma presenting as a lump in breast: a case report

Abstract

Introduction Malignant melanoma of the breast is quite rare and is mostly cutaneous in origin. When present as a lump in breast tissue, it may either be primary malignant melanoma or metastatic from unknown primary. Patient and method The patient was a 71-year-old woman presenting with a lump in the right breast for 1 month with image assessment of BIRAD V. The core needle biopsy showed spindle cell tumor. She was diagnosed as CA breast and underwent radical mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy. Result The specimen showed a well defined white rubbery mass of 2.5 × 2 × 1.5 cm at outer inner quadrant. The mass was composed of malignant cells having round to spindle shaped arranging in sheets and haphazard pattern. Immunohistochemical study showed positive vimentin, S-100, Melan-A, and HMB45, whereas AE1/AE3 was negative. No nodal metastasis was presented. The diagnosis was malignant melanoma of the breast. After contact with the surgeon, additional clinical information of melanoma of the foot was received. Conclusion Breast metastasis is rare with the incidence of 1.2–2.0%. Malignant melanoma is the most common tumor follow by lung and ovarian cancer. Diagnosis is based on histologic and immunohistochemical finding along with complete clinical information.