Ovary, metastatic breast carcinoma

Based on autopsy studies, ovarian metastases occur in as many as one third of patients with breast cancer. Mass forming lesions or symptomatic ovarian metastases are much less common. Metastatic breast carcinomas are usually solid and bilateral and efface the ovarian parenchyma. A high index of suspicion is required when screening the adnexa in patients with breast cancer. Uterine carcinosarcomas account for approximately 10% of endometrial malignancies. The sarcomatous component may be either homologous or heterologous. The most common heterologous elements include rhabdomyosarcoma and chondrosarcoma. Rarer forms of heterologous elements include osteosarcoma and liposarcoma. There is a significant lower survival for stage 1 heterologous versus homologous tumors.