Granular cell tumor of the breast diagnosed by core needle biopsy: a case report

Granular cell tumor rarely occurs in the breast. We report a 69-year-old woman with a right breast mass that simulated carcinoma on palpation, mammography, and ultrasonography. Aspiration biopsy cytology showed no malignant atypical cells. Core needle biopsy was performed to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The lesion was histologically confirmed to be a granular cell tumor. Immunostaining was positive for S-100 protein and vimentin, and negative for keratin, carcinoembryonic antigen, estrogen receptor and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15. The tumor was treated by wide local excision. Surgeons should be aware that granular cell tumor can resemble breast cancer in order to avoid performing a needless radical mastectomy.     

Mucocele-like tumor of the breast: a case report and assessment of aspirated cytological specimens

Background: Mucocele-like tumor (MLT) is a rare benign condition, and often misdiagnosed as mucinous carcinoma. Methods: We encountered a 31-year-old woman with MLT of the breast. The patient presented with an elastic hard mass, 0.5 cm in diameter, located in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Results: Physical examination as well as ultrasonography and mammography indicated a benign lesion. However, mucinous carcinoma was suspected based on aspiration biopsy cytology. MLT was finally diagnosed on excisional biopsy. Conclusions: Awareness of this breast disease helps to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.     

A case of adenoid cystic carcinoma (acc) of the Breast and review of the utility of preoperative imaging diagnose

A case of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast in a 66-year-old woman is reported herein. ACC accounts for about 0.1% of all breast cancers. Our patient presented with a small, elastic and hard mass, measuring 2.0x2.0 cm, between both outer quadrants of the right breast. Although physical examination, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) mammography suggested a benign tumor, aspiration biopsy cytology (ABC) was performed twice, and the second ABC specimen was evaluated as suspicious for breast carcinoma. Breast conserving surgery with a level II lymph node dissection was subsequently performed. There was no lymph node metastases and estrogen receptor (ER) status was negative. Light microscopy revealed various growth patterns, with the cells showing biphasic cellularity. According to immunohistochemical analyses, CEA, actin and vimentin were positive, S-100 protein was negative, and the cytokeratin reaction was partially positive. Therefore, ACC of the breast was diagnosed. Although ACC of the breast is a rare neoplasm, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis even if various diagnostic imaging studies suggest a benign tumor of the breast. Awareness of this tumor will help prevent misdiagnosis.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of the metal clip in a breast: safety ana its availability as a negative marker

PURPOSE: This study assesses magnetic resonance (MR) safety of the stainless-steel clip inserted after stereotactic-guided directional vacuum-assisted biopsy (DVAB) of the breast, and evaluates its imaging value. METHODS: We used a sausage as a substitute breast and inserted the clip into it. The MR images of the substitute were scanned using a breast coil, and it was then dissected. After the substitute experimentation, MR scanning of the breast was performed using a dynamic contrast enhanced technique, in which a clip was placed after DVAB for suspicion of ductal carcinoma was seen as grouped amorphous calcifications on mammography. RESULTS: On every magnetic resonance image of the substitute, the clip was seen as a spotty signal void, with no surrounding artifact. There was no movement and no evidence of increased clip temperature on dissected of the substitute, confirming the safety of breast MR with a clip in place. There was no patient complaint of feeling heat or pain during the MRI examination and there were only biopsy scars on the surgically excised breast specimen material. On the breast MR images, a spreading region of the tumor adjoining the position of the signal void was identified as an early enhancing lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The safety and reliability of breast MR examination using a mammotome clip was demonstrated by both the mock examination and the breast examination. It is possible to localize of tumor spread regions based on the marker position using the clip as a negative signal marker.     

乳腺钼靶和超声诊断乳腺原位癌伴早期浸润的对照研究

目的：探讨乳腺钼靶和超声诊断乳腺原位癌伴早期浸润的影像学特点,方法：对比40例手术后病理证实的乳腺原位癌伴早期浸润患者的钼靶与超声诊断结果。结果：40例患者在乳腺钼靶摄片上有乳腺癌征象的28例（70.0％），表现为良性肿瘤征象的7例（17．5％），无肿瘤征象5例（12.5％）；在乳腺超声诊断中有乳腺癌表现的13例（32.5％），表现为良性肿瘤征象的10例（25.0％），无占位表现的17例（42.5％）。结论：在乳腺原位癌伴早期浸润诊断方面，乳腺钼靶诊断与病理诊断的符合率高于乳腺超声检查；两种检查综合诊断可减少此类早期乳腺癌的漏诊。     

Two Cases of Cholesterol Granuloma of the Breast

We report two cases of cholesterol granuloma of the breast clinically diagnosed as malignant and describe the features. The first patient was a 74-year-old woman who complained of a lump in the left breast. The mammography and ultrasonography suggested a malignant mass. Fine needle aspiration showed multinucleated giant cells. We suspected breast cancer, but cholesterol granuloma was diagnosed on excisional biopsy. The second case was a 51-year-old woman who was found to have a breast tumor on a screening mammography. The mammography and ultrasonography suggested carcinoma, but excisional biopsy revealed cholesterol granuloma. Reports of cholesterol granuloma of the breast are very rare. Cholesterol granuloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast carcinoma.     

Two cases of occult breast cancer in which PET-CT was helpful in identifying primary tumors

We report two cases of occult breast cancer in which masses were completely nonpalpable and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was extremely helpful in identifying the primary tumor. Case 1 involved a 56-year-old woman with enlarged lymph nodes 3 cm in size in the axilla. Based on excisional biopsy, axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer was suspected but an obvious primary tumor in the breast was not identifiable on mammography, contrast-enhanced CT, or ultrasonography. Faint accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was noted only on PET-CT, so the site was considered to be the primary site, and operation was performed. As a result of postoperative pathological examination, ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) was diagnosed. Case 2 involved a 55-year-old woman with enlarged lymph nodes 3 cm in size in the axilla. Based on the excisional biopsy, axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer was suspected. In this case as well, an obvious primary tumor was not identifiable with palpation or mammography. On PET-CT, faint accumulation of FDG was noted in the vicinity of the CD regions, or upper and lower outer quadrants. When contrast-enhanced CT and ultrasonography were performed, a faint nodular opacity less than 1 cm in size corresponding to this site was found and diagnosed as the primary site, operation was subsequently performed. Pathologic diagnosis indicated invasive cancer. PET-CT is a helpful option for the diagnosis of occult breast cancer with primary sites that conventional imaging studies have difficulty identifying.     

A case of endocrine ductal carcinoma of the breast

A case of endocrine ductal carcinoma of the breast is presented. A 65-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of left breast mass and pain. Physical examination, mammography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography showed a mass 5 cm in diameter in the left breast suggestive of breast cancer, and incisional biopsy confirmed ductal carcinoma. Auchincloss's mastectomy was performed. The tumor, 4.0 x 3.8 cm in size, consisted of a relatively uniform proliferation of tumor cells with round nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, tumors cells were positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and neuron-specific enolase. Endocrine ductal carcinoma with invasion was diagnosed. No lymph node metastasis was observed, and estrogen and progesterone receptors were positive.     

Parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast: a case report with special reference to magnetic resonance imaging findings and an update review of literature

Parenchymal leiomyomas of the breast are extremely rare, with only 25 cases reported in the literature. We report the 26th case of parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast in a 63-year-old woman who presented to us with a right breast tumor detected on her screening mammography. This tumor was evaluated by mammography, ultrasonography, and MR imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast examined by MR imaging. MR imaging revealed an oval mass with circumscribed margins that appeared as a high-intensity lesion in both T1 and T2. A dynamic MRI study showed a gradual increase pattern on the mass. Excisional biopsy revealed a growth pattern of interlacing fascicles of spindle cells without atypia or mitoses, consistent with parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast. Here we report a case of parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast, and describe the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical findings. In addition, we review the literature on parenchymal leiomyoma of the breast with regard to clinical characteristics and pathological features of this entity.     

乳腺颗粒细胞瘤1例报告及合并文献分析

目的 分析乳腺颗粒细胞瘤的临床病理特点,并指导临床诊治.方法 回顾性分析1例乳腺颗粒细胞瘤的临床病理资料.结果 乳腺颗粒细胞瘤很少见,临床症状不典型,与乳腺癌很难鉴别,细针穿刺及术中快速冰冻病理检查无法确诊.手术治疗后,预后良好.结论 乳腺颗粒细胞瘤的诊断手术后病理诊断结果为标准,其特征性表现为胞质内存在嗜酸性颗粒.     

What ultrasonography can tell in breast masses that mammography and physical examination cannot

The capability of ultrasonography to provide additional information to the physical and mammographic examination for therapeutic decision was investigated in a prospective study. Four hundred patients with palpable or radiologic breast masses requiring surgical biopsy were studied. The high resolution and accuracy of ultrasonography vs. mammography in the diagnosis of cystic masses (96%, 63/66 vs. 42%, 20/48) (p less than 0.001) and fibrocystic masses (84%, 131/156 vs. 74%, 80/108) (p less than 0.10), led to a substantial reduction of surgical biopsies in favor of aspiration or follow-up policy, particularly when physical examination and mammography were inconclusive. Breast cancers were accurately diagnosed in 73% (88/120) by sonography and 84% (98/116) by mammography (p greater than 0.10). The major limitation of ultrasonography was noticed in the diagnosis of minimal breast cancer (23%, 5/21) due to its inability to visualize microcalcifications. Our study validates the importance of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and therapeutic decision of cystic and fibrocystic masses but cannot substitute mammography in early detection of breast carcinoma.     

Effectiveness of alternating mammography and magnetic resonance imaging for screening women with deleterious BRCA mutations at high risk of breast cancer

BACKGROUND:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to supplement screening mammography and clinical breast examination (CBE) in women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. In this study, the authors investigated the efficacy of alternating screening mammography and breast MRI every 6 months in women who had a genetically high risk of developing breast cancer.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was performed on all women who were seen in a high‐risk breast cancer clinic from 1997 to 2009. Patients with breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutations who underwent alternating screening mammography and breast MRI every 6 months were included in the study. Mammography, ultrasonography, MRI, and biopsy results were reviewed.

RESULTS:

Of 73 patients who met the study criteria, 37 had BRCA1 mutations, and 36 had BRCA2 mutations. Twenty‐one patients (29%) completed 1 cycle of mammography and MRI surveillance, 23 patients (31%) completed 2 cycles, 18 patients (25%) completed 3 cycles, and patients 11 (15%) completed ≥4 cycles. The median follow‐up was 2 years (range, 1‐6 years). Thirteen cancers were detected among 11 women (15%). The mean tumor size was 14 mm (range, 1‐30 mm), and 2 patients had bilateral cancers. Twelve of 13 cancers were detected on an MRI but not on the screening mammography study that was obtained 6 months earlier. One cancer (a 1‐mm focus of ductal carcinoma in situ) was an incidental finding in a prophylactic mastectomy specimen. One patient had ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy identified on ultrasonography but had no evidence of lymph node involvement after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:

In women who were at genetically high risk of developing breast cancer, MRI detected cancers that were not identified on mammography 6 months earlier. Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate the benefits of this screening regimen. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Mucocele-like tumor of the breast caused by ductal carcinoma in situ: a case report

A mucocele-like tumor (MLT) of the breast caused by clinging and micropapillary carcinoma in situ is reported. The tumor was a smooth-contoured mass located near the nipple in the lower inner quadrant of the left breast. Ultrasonography showed a cystic tumor and distended ducts. An aspiration specimen contained abundant mucinous material and a small amount of epithelial cell components, but was insufficient for cytological diagnosis. An excisional biopsy specimen disclosed multiple cysts containing mucin with extravasation into the stroma. Additional pathologic diagnosis using consecutive microscopic sections demonstrated ductal carcinoma in situ. Subcutaneous mastectomy was subsequently performed. Histopathologic findings in the resected and biopsy specimens indicated a diagnosis of MLT caused by widely spreading clinging and micropapillary ductal carcinoma in situ. The ductal epithelium of the MLT in an open biopsy specimen must be carefully examined using consecutive microscopic sections to detect occult DCIS.     

Clear cell hidradenoma of the breast: a case report with review of the literature

Clear cell hidradenoma of the breast is rare. A 55-year-old woman demonstrated a left breast tumor during follow-up examination of the right breast. Focal asymmetric density was shown on mammogram, and ultrasonography showed an intracystic tumor. Since the diagnosis was not clear on aspiration cytology, excisional biopsy was performed. The lesion was an intracystic tumor macroscopically. Histological examination demonstrated characteristic histological features of clear cell hidradenoma, such as proliferation of uniform epithelial cells, clear or slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, and cuboidal cell-lined ductal structures. Immunohistochemically, these proliferating epithelial cells were negative for myoepithelial markers, such as alpha-smooth muscle actin, CD10 and anti-muscle actin, but positive for p63. These features were consistent with clear cell hidradenoma.     

乳腺X线摄影检出的恶性微钙化在MR上的影像表现

目的:探讨乳腺X线摄影检出的恶性微钙化病变在MR上的影像表现。方法:回顾性分析乳腺X线摄影上表现为微钙化且手术病理证实为乳腺癌的80例患者资料,均行乳腺MR检查及X线引导下金属丝定位。分析其X线、MR表现及两者的关系。统计学采用卡方检验或Fisher's 精确检验。结果:共83个病灶,导管内癌45个,浸润性癌38个。X线表现:67个为单纯钙化,16个钙化伴局部密度增高;细小多形性（49个）及簇状分布（35个）是最常见的钙化形态及分布方式。MR表现:非肿块样强化57个,肿块样强化16个,未见异常强化10个。92.9%（26/28）的段样分布钙化MR上表现为段样分布强化。段样分布钙化灶在MR上以段样分布强化更常见（P=0.000）。81.3%（13/16）的肿块样强化见于簇状分布钙化。肿块样强化更多见于簇状分布的钙化灶（P=0.000）。MR上假阴性钙化灶多见于簇状分布钙化灶,但没有显著差异（P=0.061）。结论:恶性微钙化在MR上的强化类型以非肿块样强化常见,少部分表现为肿块样强化。其强化表现与钙化在X线上的分布方式有关。     

A case of lymphocytic mastopathy requiring differential diagnosis from primary breast lymphoma

Lymphocytic mastopathy is a benign breast disease characterized by dense fibrosis, lobular atrophy, and aggregates of lymphocytes in a periductal and perivascular distribution. The condition affects young to middle-aged women and frequently shows an association with diabetes mellitus or autoimmune disorders. Here, we report a case of the disease clinically and radiologically mimicking primary breast neoplasms. The patient was a 50-year-old woman without diabetes who presented with two firm lumps in her right breast. Breast imaging findings from mammography, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively, revealed an abnormal appearance suspicious of malignancy. A core-needle biopsy specimen showed atypical accumulation of lymphoid cells, which was not easy to differentiate from primary breast lymphomas. Moreover, ¹⁸fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) examination detected abnormal uptake in the same lesions. Histological examination of a surgically obtained specimen showed characteristic appearance of lymphocytic mastopathy, which predominantly consisted of B-lymphocytes. In our case, it was difficult to distinguish this entity from breast cancer or low-grade B-cell lymphoma without surgical biopsy.     

乳腺癌前期导管内增生性病变的临床诊断研究

目的 探讨常规乳腺疾病检查方法在乳腺癌前期导管内增生性病变中的诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析522例经病理证实为乳腺导管上皮内瘤变（DIN）的病例,对其临床乳腺体格检查、乳管镜检查、乳腺超声及钼靶X线摄片BI-RADS分类结果进行分析,对比其诊断价值.检出率比较利用配对×^2检验,单因素分析用Spearman等级相关检验,多因素分析采用二元Logistic回归分析.结果 手术切除活组织检查病理诊断为DIN的病灶共533处.乳腺超声对癌前期导管内增生性病变的检查准确率为62.5％ （330/528）,钼靶X线检出率为75.8％ （260/343）,总体检出率钼靶X线高于乳腺超声（P=0.004）.乳腺超声对不可扪及癌前期病灶的检出率为37.7％ （40/106）,钼靶X线对不可扪及的乳腺癌前期病灶检出率为80.7％（71/88）,钼靶X线在不可扪及病灶中检出率高于超声（P=0.000）.乳腺超声及钼靶X线对病灶直径较小、病变恶性程度较低的癌前期导管内增生性病变病灶漏诊和误诊率较高.结论 在乳腺癌前期导管内增生性病变的诊断中,钼靶X线检出率高于乳腺超声,两者联合临床体征、乳管镜等各种检查方法综合诊断,可降低早期病变的漏诊和误诊率.     

A case of primary breast cancer who responded remarkably to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the combination of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide

A 67-year-old woman visited our hospital with suspicion of right breast cancer. She underwent core needle biopsy, and her disease was diagnosed as breast cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma, ER- and PgR- positive, HER2-negative). We chose neoadjuvant chemotherapy, because the tumor size was over 3 cm in diameter and she wished to conserve her breast. She was elderly, and so without anthracycline base, we used a combination of docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m(2)) q3w 6 cycles followed by breast-conserving therapy. During treatment, the patient remained very well and showed no major side effects except grade 4 neutropenia on an outpatient basis. After 6 cycles, ultrasonography and mammography indicated the residual tumor, but breast MRI did not detect any tumor. Pathological examination showed absence of invasive tumor or only focal residual tumor cells (QpCR). We concluded that the combination of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide was a good option for neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer.     

Inflammatory carcinoma of the breast: Characteristic findings of MR imaging

Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) shows a unique clinical appearance and has an extremely poor prognosis. Although immediate intensive therapy has been proposed, diagnosis of this disease tends to be delayed as its clinical features can be confused with acute mastitis. The conventional imaging modalities including mammography and ultrasonography are of limited value in the diagnosis of IBC, as it is difficult to delineate specific findings of the swollen dense breast. Recently, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been widely applied to breast diseases. One of the excellent features of this modality is its diagnostic ability in dense breasts. However, few trials to evaluate the capability of this new modality for IBC have been documented. In recent years, we found that a characteristic feature in 5 cases of IBC was a strong signal on T2-weighted images (T2WI) of MR imaging at the retromammary and subcutaneous area. Pathological features of the retromammary area showed marked interstitial edema and focal lymphatic involvement by tumor cells. These characteristic images obtained by MR imaging may be suggestive of inflammatory breast carcinoma. Furthermore, subtracted dynamic MR imaging indicated the site of the tumor. Therefore, the application of MR imaging for swollen breasts would assist in the immediate diagnosis of IBC and would contribute to appropriate and timely therapy.     

乳腺疾病术前影像学评估价值探讨

目的:比较彩色多普勒超声、钼靶和MRI在乳腺良恶性疾病诊断中的作用.方法:以术后病理结果为金标准,比较术前3种检查方法的诊断准确性.结果:共计465例乳腺疾病患者接受检查,其中乳腺恶性病变339例,乳腺良性病变126例.乳腺癌彩超、钼靶和MRI的灵敏度分别为88.3%、85.3%和92.3%,特异度分别为88.6%、90.4%和91.7%,诊断符合率分别为88.5%、89.5%和92.0%,其中MRI 的各项诊断指标均为最高,对≤2cm的乳腺癌,钼靶的特异度最高(96.2%),但对于<45岁的年轻女性的致密性乳腺内的病变诊断,具有较低灵敏度.对乳腺炎性病变和导管瘤,钼靶及彩超较MRI诊断率高(66.6%,66.7%).结论:彩色多普勒超声和钼靶及MRI 3种乳腺影像诊断方法对乳腺病变的诊断均有各自优势,联合三种检查方法可对术前乳腺病变有更高的诊断价值.