Ovarian metastases of breast carcinoma. A clinicopathologic study of 59 cases

Abstract

Of 165 ovarian metastases recorded in the files of L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Canada, between 1951 and 1987, 64 (38%) were from breast adenocarcinomas. Histopathologic material was available in 59 instances, of which 22 were autopsy cases and 28 were incidental findings at therapeutic oophorectomy. The patients' ages ranged from 25 to 80 years (average, 48.6 years). Sixty-four percent of the metastases were bilateral and 36% were unilateral. An ovarian metastasis was detected before the breast cancer in only one instance. The median interval between the diagnosis of breast carcinoma and the ovarian metastasis was 11.5 months and was related to the initial stage of the breast disease. The median survival after the diagnosis of ovarian metastasis was 16 months. The ovaries were grossly normal in 27 (46%) cases and 18 (31%) metastases were less than 1 mm in diameter. The size of the metastases was not related to the interval after the diagnosis of the breast carcinoma and did not influence the outcome of the patients. Forty-four metastases (75%) showed an indian file or ductal patterns easily identifiable as metastases of breast origin. The remaining cases presented various histologic features mimicking primary ovarian tumors or tumor-like conditions such as stromal luteoma, hyperthecosis, dysgerminoma, granulosa cell tumor, and carcinoid tumor. No metastasis had features of Krukenberg tumor. The authors conclude that metastases from breast cancer are generally small and are the reflection of an advanced disease. A metastasis of breast origin can be suspected histologically in most cases.

Malignant Melanoma Involving the Ovary: A Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Study of 23 Cases

“…7,28 This is an interesting finding that could be mis- leading since most other metastatic tumors involve both ovaries. 10,14 A gross feature that is helpful in making the diagnosis of melanoma is the presence of pigment. This finding was noted in 8 cases.…”

Is transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from patients with advanced-stage breast cancer safe? A pilot study

“…Most occult metastases belong to the less common histological type, infiltrating lobular as opposed to infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). Ovarian metastasis more commonly occurs in advanced-stage cancer [19,27].…”

Morphological and phenotypical features of ovarian metastases in breast cancer patients

“…On a tomographic FF-OCT image, an inclusion cyst is characterized by a thin dark outer layer and lack of interior structure, whereas micrometastatic lesions from primary invasive ductal carcinomas present as ‘web-like’ structures in which tumor cells appear light gray. Metastatic lesions derived from primary invasive lobular carcinomas often show an Indian file pattern, defined as infiltrating single rows of cells [36]. Since ovarian inclusion cysts are separately identifiable within the ovarian parenchyma [32], a distinction between these structures can also be made.…”