title: Metastatic myoepithelioma of the breast.
abstract: Myoepitheliomas are typically benign tumours arising from exocrine glands. There have only been five reports of malignant myoepitheliomas from breast origin previously published in the English literature. This report describes a patient with myoepithelioma arising in the breast which later metastasized despite the primary tumour having benign histological features. Impaired immune function due to end-stage renal failure and haemodialysis may have contributed to the malignant potential of her tumour. The literature regarding myoepithelial tumours is reviewed. All breast myoepitheliomas should be managed as potentially malignant tumours with appropriate surgical clearance and staging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. ross.jennens@petermac.org
authors.forename: Ross R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Jennens
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzales
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000556:secondary*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*