Multimodality imaging review of metastatic melanoma involving the breast

Abstract

Melanoma is among the most commonly reported non-mammary primary tumors to metastasize to the breast. Unfortunately, evidence of melanoma metastasis to any site portends a poor prognosis. Imaging studies can be useful in the early detection of metastatic melanoma which is essential for appropriate management of this disease. There have been very few previous studies on the imaging findings of metastatic melanoma especially across multiple imaging modalities. This review aims to describe these imaging features seen on mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) using three case examples. Our findings, consistent with previous studies, describe melanoma metastases to the breast as largely non-specific, round or oval masses with circumscribed margins and homogeneous internal enhancement.