Fine-needle aspiration of bilateral breast metastases from malignant melanoma: a case report

Metastasis of malignant melanoma to the breast is uncommon. A 32-year-old woman had previously undergone big toe amputation with inguinal lymph node dissection for malignant melanoma of the toenail (2 lymph nodes were positive for melanoma), followed by adjuvant immunotherapy with interferon. After 12 months, she was put on chemotherapy with dacarbazine because of intransit metastases. Brain metastases developed while on chemotherapy and whole brain irradiation was delivered. She then presented with bilateral multiple breast masses. Breast ultrasonography revealed multiple hypoechoic solid masses in both breasts. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed clusters of pleomorphic hyperchromatic cells, exhibiting malignant features. Immunohistochemically (IHC) the cells were strongly positive for HMB 45.