Metastases to the breast, an uncommon diagnosis: what do radiologists need to know?

To analyze the imaging characteristics of histologically diagnosed metastases to the breast.

We selected patients histologically diagnosed with metastases to the breast in our diagnostic and interventional breast imaging unit between March 2010 and September 2018.

A total of 9 patients (all women; mean age, 60 y; age range, 28-89 y) were diagnosed with metastases to the breast. In 1 (11.11%) case, the primary disease was diagnosed from the breast lesion. The primary tumors were melanoma (n=5), neuroendocrine tumor (n=2, one from the small bowel and one from the cervix), lung adenocarcinoma (n=1), and ovarian cancer (n=1). The clinical and imaging manifestations depend on the type of dissemination of disease and can simulate benign and malignant primary breast lesions.

There is no specific imaging pattern for metastases to the breast that would help to orient the diagnosis. It is important to consider this etiological possibility if the patient has a history of a primary tumor in another organ.