Breast cancer with endocrine differentiation: report of two cases showing different histologic patterns

• Published in: Surgery today (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2003-12, Vol.33 (12), p.909-912
• Main Authors: Ajisaka, Hideyuki, Maeda, Kiichi, Miwa, Atsuo, Yamamoto, Katsuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - physiopathology; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Carcinoma - pathology; Carcinoma - physiopathology; Carcinoma - surgery; Carcinoma, Small Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Small Cell - physiopathology; Carcinoma, Small Cell - surgery; Endocrine System - pathology; Female; Humans; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0941-1291; 1436-2813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00595-003-2612-5

We report two cases of breast cancer with endocrine differentiation. Case 1 was a 56-year-old woman with a 2-cm tumor in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast and right axillary lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy suggested carcinoma and we performed breast-conserving surgery with lymph node dissection. Histologic examination revealed breast cancer with endocrine differentiation resembling small cell carcinoma of the lung, with one nodal metastasis. Case 2 was a 71-year-old woman with a 2.5-cm tumor in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Aspiration cytology suggested carcinoma and we performed mastectomy with lymph node dissection. Histologic examination revealed a carcinoid tumor, as one of the breast cancers with endocrine differentiation, but no nodal metastasis. The two patients are now disease-free 26 and 12 months after surgery, respectively.