Mammary hamartoma: immunohistochemical study of two adenolipomas and one variant with cartilage, smooth muscle and myoepithelial proliferation

Three cases of mammary hamartoma were investigated immunohistochemically and are described. Case 1 was a 42 year old woman with an elastic hard tumor, 1.5 cm in diameter, in her left breast. Case 2 was a 49 year old woman with a semisoft tumor, 5 x 2 cm, in her right breast. Case 3 was a 47 year old woman with a hard tumor, 5 cm in diameter, in her left breast. In each case, mammography and ultrasonography revealed a benign-looking, well-circumscribed mass without calcification. Histologically, the tumors were composed of adipose tissue, mammary glands, and fibrous and/or fibromuscular tissue. The tumor in case 3 also contained small islands of hyaline cartilage. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed, and epithelial and mesenchymal components were discretely and differentially immunostained except that the smooth muscle component seemed to be derived from myoepithelial cells. Cartilage formation might be the result of metaplasia, and 'metaplastic variant of the mammary hamartoma' or 'choristoma' may be an appropriate term for cartilage-containing mammary hamartoma. Using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-immunostaining, we observed that each component of the tumors had an individual growth rate. This finding may reflect one aspect of the biological characteristics of hamartoma.     

Can cytological findings predict intraductal spread of breast cancer? Histopathological case–control study

An important predictive factor for local recurrence after breast-conserving therapy is the state of the surgical margin. In order to obtain a negative surgical margin, the present case-control study was conducted to determine whether the extent of ductal spread can be estimated from the information obtained by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Samples from 69 cases of extensive ductal spread (EDS) in which it was thought that cancer cells had remained in the residual breast when the lumpectomy was performed with 2 cm margins, were retrieved and compared with 62 cases having almost the same clinical and pathological tumor size. The cases of EDS included a significantly larger number of papillotubular carcinomas (37%vs 13%, P = 0.004) and displayed a high nuclear atypia (42%vs 26%, P = 0.001). We could estimate the same tendency with cytological studies. Cancer cells with cohesive papillary-like clusters suggesting papillotubular carcinoma and with a large nuclear diameter were significantly more numerous in cases of EDS (P < 0.01). In conclusion, EDS can be determined by estimating histological type via cytodiagnosis and measuring the nuclear diameter of cancer cells.     

Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: A case report with cytologic findings and review of the literature

The cytological and histopathological featurn of a case of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast In a 47-year-old Japanese female was studied. The fine needle aspl rstlon blopsy specimen of this case revealed prolfferating ductal cells and atyplcal squamous cells In the same cell clusters. The resected left breast mass had a relatively well-circumscribed hard mass measuring 1.6 cm at its greatest dimension. Histologic examination demonstrated the coexistence of atypicai squamous and ductal components in the same lesion, with transition between these two components. Desmoplastic stomal reaction was observed. The majority of ductal components had a two-layered composition, and sclerosimg adenosls-like lesions were also observed at the periphery of the tumor. Based on these cytoiogic and histological findings, this tumor was diagnosed as low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast This is the first report of the cytological findings of low-grade adenquamous carcinoma of the breast, and It is Important for pathologists to consider the possibility of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma when the cytologlcal findings described above are present in an aspiration cytology specimen of the breast.     

Primary osteosarcoma of the breast

Presented herein is a case of primary pure osteosarcoma of the breast. A 59-year-old woman noticed a left breast tumor. Mammography showed a cluster of crushed stone-like calcifications, which gave the tumor a raw cotton-like appearance. Malignancy was suspected on fine-needle aspiration cytology of the tumor. An excisional biopsy was performed. The tumor was 2.0 × 2.4 cm in size. Histopathologically the tumor was composed of diffuse atypical cells with mitosis and a lot of bone. Atypical cells were thought to be neoplastic osteoblasts. Multinucleated osteoclastic cells were interspersed with osteoblasts. Spindle cells were found at the verge of the tumor. A few entrapped tubular structures were seen. Immunohistochemistry indicated that neoplastic osteoblastic cells of the tumor were stained positively for vimentin, but negatively for epithelial markers; which suggested that the tumor cell elements originated from epithelial cells. This tumor was diagnosed as primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Partial resection was additionally performed around the excisional biopsy without dissection of the axillary lymph nodes. Bone radionuclide scan after operation showed no abnormal uptake. At 5 years after surgery no recurrence was seen.     

Histogenesis of metaplastic breast carcinoma and axillary nodal metastases

A 40-year-old breast-feeding woman presented with left breast swelling. On physical examination a 7 cm mass was found in the breast. Because biopsy demonstrated malignant tissue, mastectomy with axillary nodal dissection was performed. Pathological findings were consistent with metaplastic breast carcinoma with nodal metastases. The primary tumor consisted of three types of invasion: ductal, squamous, and sarcomatous. Furthermore, three morphological transitions were observed: ductal–squamous, ductal–sarcomatous, and squamous–sarcomatous. Ductal–squamous (12/18 microscopy slides) and squamous–sarcomatous transitions (10/18) were more commonly observed than ductal–sarcomatous transition (3/18). Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed loss of epithelial marker (cytokeratin) and acquisition of mesenchymal markers (vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin) in the sarcomatous component. These findings suggested that epithelial–mesenchymal transition had occurred in the tumor and that two pathways, ductal–squamous–sarcomatous and ductal–sarcomatous transition, were involved in progression of metaplastic breast carcinoma. The main pathway appeared to be ductal–squamous–sarcomatous transition. Regarding the nodal metastases, of 13 positive nodes, ductal, squamous, and sarcomatous components were observed in 13, seven, and two nodes, respectively. Moreover, as in the primary tumor, ductal–squamous and squamous–sarcomatous transitions were observed. This suggested that the ductal component metastasized to the nodes and that epithelial–mesenchymal transition subsequently occurred within the nodes.     

Cytodiagnosis of secretory carcinoma of the breast: a report on two cases

Secretory carcinoma of the breast is a rare (<1%) low grade breast carcinoma which shows distinct features at histology. Diagnosis of this carcinoma at fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is difficult. Two cases of secretory carcinoma of the breast presenting as a breast mass, one in a 24-year-old female and the other in a 40-year-old female are reported, highlighting their appearance at FNAC. In both the cases the aspirates were cellular and consisted of clusters and single cells with uniform round nuclei showing minimal nuclear atypia. Most of the cells had moderate to abundant cytoplasm with prominent intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Many cells showed a plasmacytoid appearance and others were binucleate. A typical amphophilic bubbly cytoplasm of the tumor cells was observed. Both cases were confirmed as secretory carcinoma on histology. The differences in cell morphology at FNAC of secretory carcinoma of the breast from other breast carcinomas, and its utility of making a preoperative diagnosis are discussed.     

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast with Merkel cell carcinoma-like features

A case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast with Merkel cell carcinoma-like features occurring In a 38-year-old female Is described. A 2.5 × 2.5 × 1.3 cm tumor in the upper-outer quadrant of the right breast was ill-defined, yellowish white and rubbery. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by a diffuse proliferation of non-cohesive round cells. The tumor cells had round nuclei with finely dispersed chromatin and inconspicuous nucleoli. The cytoplasm was generally scant, pale to eosinophilic, and argyrophilic. There were scattered foci of small nests or intraductal proliferations. Immunohistochemically, many tumor cells showed positive reaction for CAM5.2, vimentin, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin. The tumor was also positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Leu-7, calci-tonin, S-100 protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the tumor was DNA diploid. An axillary lymph node was positive for metastasis. The patient was well, without disease, for 6 years after mastectomy. It is suggested that the tumor might originate from ductal cells and show Merkel cell carcinoma-like neuroendocrine differentiation.     

Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with signet-ring cell and mucinous carcinoma components: diagnostic utility of immunocytochemistry of signet-ring cells in aspiration cytology materials

Breast cancer with signet-ring cells is very rare. In this article, we present a case of invasive ductal carcinoma with signet-ring cells and mucinous carcinoma components, which could be diagnosed as a primary cancer by immunocytochemical study of fine-needle aspiration cytology material. A 73-yr-old Japanese woman noticed a palpable mass in the left breast. The aspiration cytology disclosed the monotonous proliferation of signet-ring cell with cytological atypia. The immunocytochemical examination of neoplastic cells showed a positive reaction for estrogen receptor. The extensive examination of body before the operation did not disclose any tumors in other anatomic sites. The histological examination of surgically resected breast tumor showed invasive ductal carcinoma with foci of signet-ring cell and mucinous carcinomas. Finally, our preliminary report suggests that immunocytochemical examination of aspiration cytology materials may provide useful information in searching the primary site of breast carcinoma with signet-ring cells.     

Adult teratoid Wilms' tumor with prominent neuroepithelial differentiation

Teratoid Wilms' tumor is a rare variant of Wilms' tumor (WT) that has been reported exclusively in pediatric patients. The present paper describes a teratoid WT in a 50-year-old Korean man with a giant right renal mass. Radical nephrectomy was performed under the impression that the mass was a renal cell carcinoma. Grossly, the removed kidney contained a giant well-encapsulated mass measuring 24 × 18 × 10 cm with cystic changes, necrosis, and hemorrhage. On microscopy triphasic patterns of WT and prominent heterologous components were seen, including rhabdomyoblasts, neuroepithelial tissue, fat, cartilage, and various types of mature epithelium. This is the first reported case of a teratoid WT occurring in an adult kidney.     

Invasive ductal carcinoma associated with tubular adenoma of the breast

We report an extremely rare case of the colocalization of a tubular adenoma and an invasive ductal carcinoma occurring in a 55-year-old woman. Following radiographical evaluation, fine-needle aspiration cytology of the left breast tumor was undertaken. Because cytological examination revealed malignancy, a partial mastectomy was performed. Histologically, the tumor (measuring 1.7 x 1.3 cm) comprised two distinct parts: tubular adenoma and invasive ductal carcinoma. The invasive ductal carcinoma showed a solid pattern, high nuclear and structural atypia and frequent mitotic figures, while the tubular adenoma consisted of a proliferation of small ducts lined by single layers of epithelial and myoepithelial cells with bland nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. The histological boundary was clearly defined between the tubular adenoma and the invasive ductal carcinoma, and between the tubular adenoma and the surrounding breast tissue. The current case might be a collision between separate tubular adenoma and invasive ductal carcinoma, but the malignant transformation of a tubular adenoma cannot be ruled out. Both the long-term observation of this case and analysis of more cases may enable us to determine the histological characteristics and clinical significance of invasive ductal carcinoma associated with tubular adenoma.     

Composite encapsulated papillary carcinoma and solid papillary carcinoma

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) and solid papillary carcinoma (SPC) are distinctive variants of intraductal papillary carcinomas, each accounting for <1% of breast carcinomas. Here we report a composite carcinoma consisting of EPC and SPC. A 73‐year‐old woman was found to have a high density mass in the left breast on mammogram. A biopsy showed intermediate to high grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Gross examination of the lumpectomy specimen revealed a solid, multinodular mass. Microscopic examination demonstrated two morphologically distinct intraductal carcinomas intermingled with each other. One had delicate papillae in multi‐cystic spaces surrounded by thick fibrous capsule, consistent with EPC. The other had solid tumor nests with delicate fibrovascular cores. The cells were monotonous with round nuclei and salt and pepper‐like chromatin, characteristic of SPC. The lack of myoepithelial cells within the papillae and at the periphery of the lesion was confirmed by immunostaining for p63 and CK5/6. Neuroendocrine differentiation of SPC was demonstrated by neuron specific enolase staining. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of composite EPC and SPC. It raises an interesting question as to a possible common pathway of carcinogenesis of these two rare variants.     

Syntopes und synchrones Leiomyosarkom und papilläres Karzinom der Mamma

A 61 years old female was treated by total lumpectomy due to a palpable and radiologically demonstrable tumor measuring 22 cm in diameter in the left breast. Two different but directly neighboured malignant tumours were found: a poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma and a well differentiated invasive papillary carcinoma of the breast. The latter had metastasized in 4 axillary lymph nodes. Three months after surgery the patient died. Post-mortem studies showed many metastases of the leiomyosarcoma in both lungs, the heart, the liver, the left kidney and both adrenals. Cause of death were relapsing pulmonary thrombembolisms. Case reports of leiomyosarcomas following radiotherapy of the breast cancer are published but coincidental occurrence of both metastasizing tumors are so far not known from the literature.     

Medullary breast carcinoma: a case report with cytological features and histological confirmation

We report the case of a 83-year-old woman who presented with a left-breast lump. On physical examination the patient had a well-demarcated mass located in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast with a palpable unilateral axillary lymph node. Mammography and ultrasonography depicted a heterogeneous well-defined lesion measuring 6 cm in diameter without calcifications. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the lesion was performed. Cytological examination revealed highly cellular smears containing large atypical cells arranged in syncytial sheets and intimately admixed with lymphocytes and neutrophils. The nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio was high in tumor cells whose nucleus exhibited coarse chromatin with one or more conspicuous nucleoli. The diagnosis of medullary breast carcinoma, which was strongly suspected by cytology, was confirmed by histological examination of the surgical specimen after a modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast: A cytologically overlooked neoplasm

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast is a very uncommon neoplasm. Fine-needle aspiration findings have been rarely reported. We report a case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast that was diagnosed as a typical ductal carcinoma cytologically. The patient was a 45-year-old female who had a right breast mass for a short duration. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) showed smears predominantly composed of single cells exhibiting plasmacytoid features with moderate degree of pleomorphism. A granular bluish background was noted on the Papanicolaou-stained smears. This background was thought to represent tumor diathesis, and the diagnosis of grade II ductal carcinoma of the breast was rendered. The patient underwent a subsequent lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. Histological examination of the lumpectomy revealed a neoplasm predominantly composed of a grade II chondrosarcoma with increased cellularity. A small (10%) component showed grade II invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. No in situ component was seen. The sarcomatoid component was positive for S-100 protein and vimentin and negative for keratin, whereas the carcinomatous component was positive for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, and low molecular weight keratin. Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed features of a poorly differentiated epithelial neoplasm without evidence of chondrosarcoma. Metastases were seen in seven of ten axillary lymph nodes with exclusive epithelial component. Retrospective evaluation of the FNA smears revealed an extensive metachromatic stroma on the DIFF QUIK™-stained smears. Our findings and review of the literature suggest that sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast will be very frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed either because of the subtlety of the stroma or the predominance of the mesenchymal component. Our findings also provide supportive evidence that the use of the DIFF QUIK™ stain can be very helpful in the identification of the stroma in this neoplasm. The predominance of epithelium in the metastases in our case is further proof that tumors with dual differentiation such as sarcomatoid carcinomas and mixed muellerian tumors are truly carcinomas with metaplastic features. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:242–246, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Adenocarcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

An extremely rare adenocarcinoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma is reported. A 58-year-old woman underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy because of a tumor in each ovary. The right ovarian tumor (solid, 9.6 × 9.6 × 6.3 cm) was a benign thecoma. Histology revealed the left ovarian cystic tumor (multilocular, 6.4 × 4.8 × 2.8 cm) was a mature cystic teratoma containing skin, fatty tissue and respiratory epithelial tissue. In addition, there was a small focal adenocarcinomatous lesion contiguous to the teratomatous ciliated columnar epithelium without stromal invasion (so-called adenocarcinoma in situ ) that was suggestive of respiratory epithelium origin. However, goblet cells were present in the glandular structures of the lesion and immunohistochemical staining was segmentally strongly positive for CK20 and uniformly negative for CK7. These results suggested that the adenocarcinomatous lesion had a mucin secretory gastrointestinal phenotype. Further investigation and the collection of more cases is necessary to determine the origin and growth mechanism of adenocarcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.     

Muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the breast

A very rare case of muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the breast is reported. A 54-year-old woman noticed a breast lump and consulted the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo. Physical examination revealed a mass with an unclear margin in the upper outer area of the left breast. Both mammography and ultrasonography showed an irregularly shaped mass, suggesting invasive carcinoma. Aspiration cytology revealed solid clusters of two types of cancer cells: ones with mucus in the cytoplasm, and others without mucus. Cytological features resembled muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland but it was not possible to establish a diagnosis of the histological type because muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the breast had not previously been encountered by the authors. After incisional biopsy, left mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection was performed. Histologically the tumor was surrounded by a fibrous pseudocapsule and was composed of intraductal carcinoma foci and invasive cancer nests. Intraductal carcinoma foci were the low papillary type. Stromal invasion showed many solid nests composed of mucus-containing and squamoid cancer cells. There was no common invasive ductal carcinoma component in this tumor. These histological features confirmed the diagnosis as muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the breast. This is the first report of muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the breast in Japan.     

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells arising in a mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas

A 26-year-old woman presented with pain in the left hypochondrium, for which pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed, with total gross excision of a mass. A tumor measuring 11 × 9 cm was found in the pancreas. On cut surface there were two cysts filled with a necrotic substance and hemorrhagic content. Spindle or ovoid-shaped cells, in the sarcomatous component, had diffusely infiltrated along the inner side of the walls of one cyst. Osteoclast-like giant cells (OGC) were also contained in the sarcomatous component. Adenoma components of mucinous epithelium with foci of borderline and adenocarcinomatous components were seen on the inner side of the other cyst. An ovarian-type stroma beneath the epithelial component was seen in the cyst wall. A diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma with OGC arising in a mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas, was made. Seven months after the initial operation the patient had a local recurrence, and the tumor was removed. One month after the second operation, the patient was free of symptoms. Only four cases of undifferentiated carcinoma with OGC arising in MCN, involving an ovarian-type stroma of the pancreas, have been reported.     

Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the mandibular gingiva

Papillary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) has rarely been reported in the oral cavity. Herein reported is a case of PSCC in the mandibular gum. A 70-year-old man consulted our hospital because of a papillary tumor in the left mandibular gum. Physical examination revealed an exophytic papillary tumor of the left mandibular gum, and an excision of the tumor was performed. Grossly, the tumor was exophytic and papillary, and measured 1 x 1 x 0.8 cm. Microscopically, the tumor showed exophytic papillary proliferation with fibrovascular cores and consisted of atypical squamous epithelial cells. The tumor cells showed hyperchromasia, nuclear atypia, mitotic figures, apoptotic bodies, cancer pearls, and individual keratinization. Mild stromal invasion was seen. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for pancytokeratin AE1/3, pancytokeratin CAM5.2, p63, p53, and Ki-67 (labeling index=40%), but negative for human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV in situ hybridization revealed no signals. Therefore, PSCC was diagnosed. The lateral and vertical margins are negative for tumor cell. The pathological diagnosis was PSCC. The patient was healthy and free from tumor three months after the operation.     

Metaplastic breast carcinoma with melanocytic differentiation

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare heterogeneous malignancy, accounting for <1% of all invasive breast carcinomas, in which adenocarcinoma is found to coexist with an admixture of spindle, squamous, chondroid or bone-forming neoplastic cells. Metaplastic breast carcinoma composed of both epithelial and melanocytic elements is rare, and only seven cases have been reported so far. Reported herein is the case of a 38-year-old woman with a nodular mass in her left breast suspicious of malignancy, discovered during routine ultrasound examination. After histological and immunohistochemical examination of the resected tumor mass, initial diagnosis was collision tumor: ductal invasive carcinoma and metastatic melanoma. The patient underwent quadrantectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At 6 years follow up the patient was alive and healthy, without local recurrence or metastases. After revising slides and the literature, in addition to patient follow up, it was concluded that this case represents metaplastic carcinoma with melanocytic differentiation.     

Granular cell tumor of the breast

We report a case of a 43-yr-old woman with a granular cell tumor of the breast. She presented with a palpable mass of the left breast of 2-yr duration. On physical examination, a firm, painless, well-defined mass located at the union of the upper quadrants was observed and a palpable homolateral axillary lymph node. The tumor was dense with ill-defined borders at mammography and hypoechoic, hypovascular, and poorly limited at ultrasonography. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the lesion was performed. Cytologic examination revealed the presence of highly cellular material, composed of both large cohesive groups and single cells often admixed with connective tissue. These cells had ill-defined abundant granular cytoplasm and bland regular small nuclei. Nucleoli were inconspicuous. Neither mitoses nor necrosis were noted. The cytological diagnosis of granular cell tumor of the breast was confirmed by histological examination of the surgical specimen following a breast lumpectomy.