Metastatic tumor of the hand from malignant cystosarcoma phylloides of the breast. A case report.

In this case report, a malignant cystosarcoma phylloides of the breast metastasized to the pulp of the little finger in a 47-year-old woman. It initially masqueraded as a whitlow. The diagnosis was helped by radionuclide bone scanning, which showed multiple areas of increased focal uptake including the terminal phalanx of the fifth finger, and the diagnosis was established by a frozen section biopsy of the tumor. The patient underwent a palliative fifth ray resection. She died within six weeks of surgery from extensive pulmonary and osseous metastases. Review of literature revealed only one other case of malignant cystosarcoma phylloides of the breast that metastasized to the hand and was initially misdiagnosed as a whitlow.