Bilateral metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma to the breast in an adolescent female: touch imprint cytology and implication of MyoD1 nuclear antigen.
BACKGROUND
Rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for approximately 4% of all childhood malignancies. Breast metastases from rhabdomyosarcoma are uncommon with an incidence of 6%.


METHODS
We present a patient who developed bilateral mammary metastases from rhabdomyosarcoma arising in the right lower extremity. An 11-year-old female with a 20-month history of rhabdomyosarcoma was referred to our department because of bilateral breast enlargement. A needle core biopsy was performed and touch imprint slides were obtained. Cytology determined the masses to be metastases of rhabdomyosarcoma. MyoD1 immunostain and RT-PCR analysis confirmed the diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytomorphology with ancillary methods is essential in the diagnosis of metastatic breast deposits in order to avoid unnecessary mastectomy and to employ systemic treatment.
Tamiolakis
D
D
Department of Cytology, General Hospital of Chania, Crete, Greece.
Venizelos
I
I
Nikolaidou
S
S
Prassopoulos
P
P
Alexiadis
G
G
Simopoulos
C
C
Papadopoulos
N
N
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017570:MyoD Protein; C057363:MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein