Fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of metastatic ovarian cancer to the breast

Abstract

Metastatic ovarian cancer to the breast is a rare condition. The diagnosis must be made quickly and efficiently to minimize patients' physical and emotional trauma. Three patients with metastatic ovarian cancer to the breast are presented. Fine-needle aspiration of the breast was used in all patients in an attempt to obtain a diagnosis. Correlation of the cytomorphology from the primary tumor and metastatic lesion allowed proper diagnosis in two of the three patients. This study shows that it is imperative for the clinician to work closely with the cytopathologist to obtain a correct diagnosis.