Malignant phaechromocytoma metastasising to the breast

Background. Nearly one-quarter of metastatic tumours in the breast are from an occult extramammary tumour, usually a lung carcinoma. Aim. To report on a patient with a history of metastatic malignant phaeochromocytoma and a breast mass. Result. A 54-year-old female presented with a right breast mass. At the age of 32, she had presented with a phaeochromocytoma. The staining of the breast mass was comparable with that of her original adrenal tumour. Conclusion. This is the first published case of a phaeochromocytoma metastasising to the breast, and demonstrates the challenge that extramammary tumours in the breast can pose for the pathologist.