title: A Case of Choroidal Melanoma Metastatic to the Breast.
abstract: A 61-year-old woman developed blurred vision in her left eye in December 2006. A clinical diagnosis of choroidal melanoma was made. The patient underwent excision of the left lens, followed by vitrectomy and stereotactic radiotherapy. She remained systemically healthy until 50 months later when, during a CT scan done for staging purposes, a newly visible lump was noted in the lower quadrant of her left breast. Core needle biopsy of the lesion in the left breast was performed, and histologic examination revealed metastasis from the choroidal melanoma. The patient underwent breast-conserving surgery of the left breast. Definitive histological examination showed clear tumor margins in the resected specimen and one sentinel lymph node without evidence of metastatic cells. Twenty-nine months after surgery, a similar nodule was detected in the upper quadrant of the left breast. Core biopsy again showed metastatic melanoma, and similar breast-conserving surgery was performed. Systemic examination, including magnetic resonance imaging of the head and computed tomography of the pelvis, abdomen, and chest, was done regularly and revealed no significant findings. Solitary breast metastases from choroidal melanoma are extremely rare. Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of this rare form of metastasis when treating patients with suspicious breast lesions and a history of choroidal melanoma. If solitary metastasis is confirmed, then breast-conserving surgery may be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, University Women's Clinic Tübingen.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taran-Munteanu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, University Women's Clinic Tübingen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartkopf
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinic Tübingen.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Eigentler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Clinic Tübingen.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, University Women's Clinic Tübingen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, University Women's Clinic Tübingen.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Taran
keywords: breast metastasis; breast-conserving surgery; choroidal melanoma