Abstract
A 46-year-old woman was referred for a mass in the left breast. She had noted the mass one year before seeking medical attention and complained of bleeding from her breast for one month prior to her visit. A dark brown mass with an ulcer and bleeding was detected at the nipple, and breast cancer was suspected. Needle biopsy was performed, and histologically the tumor showed atypical cells with melanin in the dermis, leading to a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Computed tomography showed brain metastasis, which was associated with hemiplegia. Therefore, radiotherapy was performed for the brain metastasis. Thereafter, modified radical mastectomy and axillary dissection were performed. Although chemotherapy was administered, the patient died 14 months postoperatively due to chest wall recurrence and brain metastasis. Malignant melanoma of the nipple is extremely rare, and the details of this case contribute to our understanding of the diagnosis and therapy of malignant melanoma.
