Axillary lymph node metastasis from mucoepidermoid carcinoma with cutaneous presentation

Extramammary metastases to the breast and axilla are uncommon, and isolated axillary lymph node metastases are especially rare. Contralateral breast malignancies are the most common primary cancers with axillary lymph node metastases. However, in patients with a clinical history of extramammary malignancy and newly developed axillary lesions, consideration of possible extramammary lymph node metastasis is important for diagnosis and treatment and to avoid unnecessary surgery. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with a palpable lump in the axilla. The patient had a history of surgery for a mass on her back, which was confirmed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma with cutaneous presentation. Ultrasonography revealed a single enlarged lymph node with cystic changes and loss of the fatty hilum in the right axilla. There were no suspicious malignancies in either breast on mammography or sonography. The patient underwent an excisional biopsy and was diagnosed with axillary lymph node metastasis from mucoepidermoid carcinoma.