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Melanoma‐like pigmented cutaneous metastases from breast carcinoma
Author(s) -
Micallef R. A.,
Boffa M. J.,
DeGaetano J.,
Muscat V.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2004.01458.x
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , melanin , breast carcinoma , pathology , dermatology , carcinoma , epidermis (zoology) , metastasis , breast cancer , cancer , biology , cancer research , anatomy , genetics
Summary We report a case of breast carcinoma that presented with pigmented cutaneous metastases clinically mimicking malignant melanoma. The pigmented nature of the tumour was probably caused by melanin release from the damaged epidermis (following invasion and destruction by tumour cells) and subsequent phagocytosis by melanophages. Clinically visible pigmentation in cutaneous metastases from breast carcinoma has been described previously but is very uncommon. This report is followed by a review of the few such cases published in the literature.