Breast Metastases from Extramammary Malignancies: Multimodality Imaging Aspects.

Breast Metastases from Extramammary Malignancies: Multimodality Imaging Aspects. Br J Radiol. 2017 May 09;:20170197 Authors: Bitencourt AGV, Gama RRM, Graziano L, Negrão EMS, Sabino SMPS, Watanabe AHU, Guatelli CS, Souza JA, Mauad EC, Marques EF Abstract Breast metastases from extramammary cancers are rare and usually related to poor prognosis. The extramammary tumors most frequently exhibiting breast metastases are melanoma, lymphomas, ovarian cancer, lung, neuroendocrine tumors, and sarcomas. Due to the lack of reliable and specific clinical or radiological signs for the diagnosis of breast metastases, a combination of techniques is needed to differentiate these lesions from primary breast carcinoma or even benign breast lesions. Multiple imaging methods may be used to evaluate these patients, including mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET/CT). Clinical and imaging manifestations are varied, depend on the form of dissemination of the disease, and may mimic primary benign and malignant breast lesions. Hematologically disseminated metastases often develop as a circumscribed mass, while lymphatic dissemination often presents as diffuse breast edema and skin thickening. Unlike primary carcinomas, breast metastases generally do not have spiculated margins, skin or nipple retraction. Microlobulated or indistinct margins may be present in some cases. Alt...
Source: The British Journal of Radiology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Br J Radiol Source Type: research