Metastatic Mammary Carcinoma Presenting as a Large Cystic Axillary Mass: A Report of an Unusual Case

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of cystic axillary masses is broad and includes intranodal lesions. Cystic metastatic tumor deposits are rare, and have been reported in a few tumor types, most commonly in the head and neck region, but rarely described with metastatic mammary carcinoma. We report a case of a 61-year-old female who presented with a large right axillary mass. Imaging studies revealed a cystic axillary mass and ipsilateral breast mass. She was managed with breast conservation surgery and axillary dissection for invasive ductal carcinoma, no special type, Nottingham grade 2 (21 mm). One of nine lymph nodes contained a cystic nodal deposit (52 mm), which resembled a benign inclusion cyst. Oncotype DX recurrence score for the primary tumor was low (8), conferring a low risk of disease recurrence despite the large size of the nodal metastatic deposit. A cystic pattern of metastatic mammary carcinoma is rare and important to recognize for accurate staging and management decisions.