Primary amelanotic melanoma of the breast: combating a rare cancer.
Summary of "Primary amelanotic melanoma of the breast: combating a rare cancer."
BACKGROUND:
Malignant melanoma is the foremost cause of metastasis to the breast from extramammary solid neoplasm. However primary melanoma of the breast is a distinct rarity. Primary melanoma involves the skin and less commonly the glandular parenchyma of the breast.
METHOD:
We herein describe a case of primary amelanotic melanoma of the breast parenchyma in a 32-year-old female managed with a combination of surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
CONCLUSION:
This case report aims to increase awareness of unusual neoplasms of the breast which might require a different surgical and adjuvant therapeutic approach.
Affiliation
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, dr_ahitagni@yahoo.co.in.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan)
ISSN: 1880-4233
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20978954
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12282-010-0231-8
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Melanoma, Amelanotic
An unpigmented malignant melanoma. It is an anaplastic melanoma consisting of cells derived from melanoblasts but not forming melanin. (Dorland, 27th ed; Stedman, 25th ed)
Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms
Metastatic breast cancer characterized by EDEMA and ERYTHEMA of the affected breast due to LYMPHATIC METASTASIS and eventual obstruction of LYMPHATIC VESSELS by the cancer cells.
Head And Neck Neoplasms
Soft tissue tumors or cancer arising from the mucosal surfaces of the LIP; oral cavity; PHARYNX; LARYNX; and cervical esophagus. Other sites included are the NOSE and PARANASAL SINUSES; SALIVARY GLANDS; THYROID GLAND and PARATHYROID GLANDS; and MELANOMA and non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck. (from Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 4th ed, p1651)
Carcinoma, Lobular
A infiltrating (invasive) breast cancer, relatively uncommon, accounting for only 5%-10% of breast tumors in most series. It is often an area of ill-defined thickening in the breast, in contrast to the dominant lump characteristic of ductal carcinoma. It is typically composed of small cells in a linear arrangement with a tendency to grow around ducts and lobules. There is likelihood of axillary nodal involvement with metastasis to meningeal and serosal surfaces. (DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1205)
Mucin-1
Carbohydrate antigen elevated in patients with tumors of the breast, ovary, lung, and prostate as well as other disorders. The mucin is expressed normally by most glandular epithelia but shows particularly increased expression in the breast at lactation and in malignancy. It is thus an established serum marker for breast cancer.
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