Metastatic breast carcinoma to the vitreous.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and pathologic findings in two patients with prior breast carcinoma who underwent diagnostic vitrectomy for vitreous opacities and preretinal membrane.


METHODS
The clinical histories and ophthalmic findings in two patients were reviewed. Vitrectomy specimens from the patients were processed by cytospin and standard tissue techniques, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined immunohistochemically for cytokeratins. The original breast carcinoma specimens were reviewed.


RESULTS
The vitreous in both patients contained malignant cells with cytologic features consistent with metastatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for cytokeratins in the cells. The cytologic findings in the vitreous cells resembled the primary breast carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast carcinoma may metastasize to the vitreous, most likely via the retina. The clinical manifestations include vitreous cell and preretinal membrane.
Zaldivar
Renzo A
RA
Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Michels
Mark
M
Grant
Kenneth F
KF
Clark
W Lloyd
WL
Grossniklaus
Hans E
HE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014822:Vitreous Body
D007633:Keratins