Breast Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Breast Cancer, including details on symptoms, genetics, screening, treatment, information.

Metastatic myoepithelioma of the breast.

Jennens RR, Rosenthal MA, Gonzales M

Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. ross.jennens@petermac.org

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.

Published 2 December 2004 in ANZ J Surg, 74(12): 1135-7.
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