Giant breast involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: MRI findings

J Breast Cancer. 2012 Jun;15(2):258-60. doi: 10.4048/jbc.2012.15.2.258. Epub 2012 Jun 28.

Abstract

Breast metastases in cases of leukemia are rare. We aimed to report the conventional-advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of unilateral breast involvement of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and review the literature. A 32-year-old woman was first diagnosed with ALL in treated in 2004. She did not continue the follow-up after 2008. She was presented with a giant, progressive right breast palpable mass in 2010. Mass, contralateral breast tissue were evaluated with MRI, diffusion weighted imaging and MR spectroscopy. With MRI findings, lesion was evaluated as malignant, tru-cut biopsy revealed recurrence of ALL. Lymphoma, malignant melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma are most common tumors metastase to breast. Breast metastases of leukemia are rare and occur primarily in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Secondary ALL breast involvement is uncommon. In a patient with malignancy, any enlarging breast mass, even with benign radiologic appearance, should be investigated carefully and metastasis should not be forgotten.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Breast; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neoplasm metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports