Title : Rare case of ectopic breast malignancy
Abstract:
In this weird and wonderful world of the human body, ectopic breast tissue is found in 2–6% of women and most commonly in axilla (72%) and least commonly in vulva (4%). They bear similar physiological and pathological variations affecting the normal breast tissue. Ectopic breast cancer has been reported in only 0.3% of all breast malignancies in literature. Here, we present a case of a 78 year old lady who presented with the GP with a right groin lymphadenopathy associated with a vulvavaginal lesion. A biopsy of the lesion revealed mammary adenocarcinoma of the vagina with nodal involvement. Triple assessment of the breast ruled out a primary breast malignancy in its anatomical position. After further investigations,the gynecology and breast MDT agreed on a diagnosis of ectopic breast malignancy of the vulva. She underwent wide local excision of vulval lesion, and received chemoradiotherapy with no complications in 5 months follow-up so far. There is still no definite treatment plan for ectopic breast cancer due to paucity of cases. Some literature prefers mastectomy whereas others have shown similar outcomes without surgery. Histologic similarities between ectopic breast tissue and benign adnexal tumors makes it a difficult diagnosis. Ectopic breast cancer was first described in 1861, and since then, fewer than 200 cases have been reported in the literature, affecting mostly ectopic breast tissue in the axilla. Hence, this case makes a rare diagnosis of primary ectopic breast malignancy of vulva with successful treatment.
