Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Metastatic Melanoma in the Breast: A Case Report.
- Author:
Young Lyun OH
1
;
Young Hyeh KO
Author Information
1. Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Sung Kyun Kwan University College of Medicine, Samsung Seoul Hospital.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Metastatic melanoma;
Breast;
Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC)
- MeSH:
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*;
Breast Neoplasms;
Breast*;
Chromatin;
Cytoplasm;
Diagnosis;
Diagnostic Errors;
Drug Therapy;
Epithelioid Cells;
Female;
Foot;
Humans;
Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies;
Mastectomy;
Melanins;
Melanoma*;
Melanoma, Amelanotic;
Middle Aged;
S100 Proteins
- From:Korean Journal of Cytopathology
1998;9(1):111-116
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Although the characteristic cytologic features of melanoma have been well described, the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) may be difficult in the case of amelanotic melanoma and in the absence of awareness of clinical history. Furthermore, when the breast is the site of initial presentation, it could simulate a primary breast carcinoma leading to misdiagnosis. The recognition of metastatic malignant melanoma in FNAC material is essential to avoid an unnecessary mastectomy and to ensure appropriate chemotherapy. We experienced a case of metastatic melanoma of breast which presented as solitary breast mass in a 56-year-old woman. She had a history of surgical excision of right foot for melanoma one year ago. The cytologic smears were composed of noncohesive epithelioid cells with round or eccentric nuclei, bi-or multi-nucleation, prominent nucleoli, fine chromatin, and intranuclear inclusions. The cytoplasm of tumor cells had scanty melanin pigment but were diffusely positive for S-100 protein.
