Metastatic Ocular Melanoma to the Breast and Axillary Lymph Nodes: An Unusual Case Presentation

Abstract

Melanoma including ocular melanoma commonly metastasizes to the liver, lungs and pleurae. Melanoma can have an indolent growth and can also be a challenge to diagnose during morphological evaluation. Rarely, it can metastasize to the breast. This 57-year-old woman presented with a breast lump and axillary lymphadenopathy of 4 months duration. A  diagnosis of poorly differentiated breast carcinoma on biopsy was made. Subsequent mastectomy done showed  pigmented malignant melanocytes within the breast and axillary lymph nodes. The laboratory then obtained previous ocular oncology history, and a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma to the breast and axillary lymph nodes was made. Clinicians and pathologists should therefore suspect a metastatic neoplasm in the breast in a patient with an ocular melanoma history