J Breast Cancer.  2010 Mar;13(1):115-119. 10.4048/jbc.2010.13.1.115.

Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in the Breast: A Case Report

• Salman B
• Sakrak O
• Yilmaz U
• Cakir A
• Kerem M
• Aydin A

• KMID: 2286569
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2010.13.1.115

Abstract

Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare neoplasm that differs from other types of breast carcinoma according to the pathological features. We describe here a case of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 72-year-old woman who complainted of a lump in her left breast. After examination and evaluation, the diagnosis was made by a core needle biopsy and the subsequent immunohistochemical examination of the specimen revealed more detailed information. We performed modified radical mastectomy, which showed no axillary node involvement. The patient was given neither radiation nor chemotherapy, however, but hormonotherapy was started postoperatively. Any recurrence has not been demonstrated at 12 months after the operation.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Neuroendocrine carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Aged
Biopsy, Large-Core Needle
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
Female
Humans
Mastectomy, Modified Radical
Recurrence

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 (A) Mammography of the left breast shows an irregular, lobulated, high density mass on mediolateral view. (B) Spot tangential view demonstrates two distinct lesions in the same area (craniocaudal view).

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  Figure 2 (A) Infiltrating tumor nests (H&E stain, ×200) (B)The tumor has intraductal component, forming papillary structures with fibrovascular cores (H&E stain, ×200) (C) Uniform polygonal or rounded cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm polarizing around the lumina (H&E stain, ×400).

• 

  Figure 3 (A) Chromogranine A (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400). (B) Synaptophysin (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400). Both synaptophysin and chromogranine A were positive for more than 50% of the tumor cells. (C) The Ki-67 proliferation index was <10% (Immunohistochemical staining, ×400).

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  Figure 4 (A) Nuclear positivity for estrogen receptor (Immunohistochemical staining, ×200). (B) Nuclear positivity for progesterone receptor (Immunohistochemical staining, ×200).

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