Abstract
BackgroundPrimary cutaneous melanoma of the breast is a very rare tumour, accounting for < 5% of all malignant melanomas.Case presentationA young lady was seen in the breast clinic for a skin lesion in the right breast. Clinical examination and investigations confirmed a diagnosis of a primary cutaneous melanoma of the breast. The lesion was excised and the patient made good recovery. She has shown no signs of local recurrence and is under regular follow-up in the dermatology clinic.ConclusionThis case is educational as it shows that the treatment of breast cutaneous melanoma is similar to that for any skin parts with surgery remaining the main therapeutic option. It also shows that mastectomy is unnecessary as it does not improve the results obtained by wide local excision of melanoma.
Highlights
Primary cutaneous melanoma of the breast is a very rare tumour, accounting for < 5% of all malignant melanomas.Case presentation: A young lady was seen in the breast clinic for a skin lesion in the right breast
This case is educational as it shows that the treatment of breast cutaneous melanoma is similar to that for any skin parts with surgery remaining the main therapeutic option
It shows that mastectomy is unnecessary as it does not improve the results obtained by wide local excision of melanoma
Summary
Treatment of breast cutaneous melanoma is the same as that for any skin parts. Surgery remains the most important therapeutic modality in preventing local recurrence. Mastectomy does not improve the results obtained by wide excision of the primary melanoma. SLNB, with tremendous benefits and minimal risk, is becoming widely adopted as most surgeons who treat breast cancer and melanoma incorporate this technique into their practice
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