Cutaneous manifestations of breast cancer

Semin Oncol. 2016 Jun;43(3):331-4. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.02.030. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Abstract

Breast cancer may present with cutaneous symptoms. The skin manifestations of breast cancer are varied. Some of the more common clinical presentations of metastatic cutaneous lesions from breast cancer will be described. Paraneoplastic cutaneous dermatoses have been reported as markers of breast malignancy and include erythema gyratum repens, acquired ichthyosis, dermatomyositis, multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, and hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita. Mammary Paget's disease, often associated with an underlying breast cancer, and Cowden syndrome, which has an increased risk of breast malignancy, each have specific dermatologic findings. Recognition of these distinct cutaneous signs is important in the investigation of either newly diagnosed or recurrent breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cowden syndrome; Cutaneous metastases; Dermatomyositis; Mammary Paget’s disease; Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Dermatomyositis / etiology
  • Erythema / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ichthyosis / etiology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*