Metastases to the breast revisited: radiological-histopathological correlation

Abstract

Metastases to the breast from extramammary tumours are infrequent. The main challenge in diagnosis is differentiating them from primary breast cancer. Radiologically this can be difficult as there are no specific imaging characteristics for metastases to the breast. Cytopathological evaluation, as well as full radiological assessment, is vital to avoid unnecessary surgery. Sources of primary tumours include a wide variety of cancers. In this pictorial review we illustrate a number of the commonest sources of primary tumours including lymphoma, lung, ovarian and cervical carcinoma, intestinal carcinoid and rare cases of Ewing's sarcoma and malignant pigmented melanocytic schwannoma (low-grade malignant melanoma).