Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer to Breast: A Case Report and Review of Imaging Manifestations

Metastasis of ovarian cancer to breast (MOCB) is rare, and the diagnosis is difficult due to the varied imaging manifestations. The objective of this paper is to report a special case of MOCB, review the imaging manifestations of MOCB and attempt to determine the characteristic imaging features that might be helpful in making the diagnosis and providing appropriate systemic therapy. A 40-year-old woman presented with a breast lesion six years after a diagnosis of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma. Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed; the final diagnosis was metastasis of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma to breast according to the histological examination and immunohistochemical examination after lumpectomy. Herein, we reviewed 41 cases diagnosed with MOCB, which include imaging of the metastatic breast lesion or a detailed description without imaging. In this review, we summarized that MOCB could present with calcifications (especially microcalcifications) on mammography (MM). MOCB presenting as inflammatory breast cancer usually shows swelling and skin thickening on MM and US, and increased fludeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). These manifestations could be helpful in differentiating malignant tumors from benign ones, but it may still be difficult to distinguish between primary and metastatic tumors. The correct diagnosis of MOCB requires a combination of the clinical history of the primary tumor, careful clinical examination, radiology and anatomic pathological evaluation.