Open Access Library Journal
Vol.04 No.05(2017), Article ID:76248,5 pages
10.4236/oalib.1103591

Secretory Breast Carcinoma, a Case Report and Literature Review

Hayet Laajili1*, Amina Ben Salem2, Sonia Zaidi3, Imen Bannour1, Khouloud Marzouk1, Asma Korbi1, Raja Faleh1

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

2Department of Radiology, Medical University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

3Department of Oncology, Medical University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

Copyright © 2017 by authors and Open Access Library Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: April 10, 2017; Accepted: May 15, 2017; Published: May 18, 2017

ABSTRACT

Secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) is a very rare subtype of breast carcinoma that reported mostly in young women, with a median age of 25 years. Despite the low frequency, SBC elicits pathologic interest because of their unique morphology and excellent prognosis. Authors report a 23-year-old woman presented with a nodule in retro areolar region of her right breast. Microbiopsic examination revealed neoplastic tissue. Pathological examination of tumor revealed SBC. This tumor is morphologically characterized by the presence of abundant eosinophilic secretions in intracellular vacuoles and intercellular spaces. The objective of this paper is to review the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects of SBC from a case report and literature review.

Subject Areas:

Oncology, Women’s Health

Keywords:

Breast, Breast Diseases, Breast Neoplasms, Secretory Breast Carcinoma

1. Introduction

Secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) is a very rare subtype of breast carcinoma and comprises less than 0.15% of invasive breast cancers. SBC was first described by McDivitt and Stewart in 1966 in young children and named “the disease juvenile carcinoma”. SBC is morphologically characterized by the presence of abundant eosinophilic secretions in intracellular vacuoles and intercellular spaces. The descriptive term “secretory carcinoma” therefore, replaced the original designation of “juvenile carcinoma” [1] [2] . Despite the low frequency, SBC elicits pathologic interest because of their unique morphology and excellent prognosis. The aim of this article is to report medical history and treatment of a SBC in a young woman and literature review.

2. Case Report

A 23-year-old woman was admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology complaining of a lump in her right breast. She has no familial history of breast cancer. She has a familial history of endometrial cancer. The lump was discovered three months ago. The physical examination revealed a 3 × 3 cm tumor located in the retro areolar region of her right breast. The mass was mobile and not painful. No skin dimple, nonipple retraction or nipple discharge were observed. No clinical axillary lymph node involvement was detected.

Mammography and ultrasonography showed a 3 cm hypoechoicmacrolobulated nodule classified as BI-RADS 4 [Figure 1]. Microbiopsic examination revealed neoplastic tissue. There was no evidence of metastatic disease on evaluation. The patient underwent a conservative treatment of the breast (lumpectomy with axillary dissection). Pathological examination of tumor revealed SBC characterized by abundant eosinophilic secretions in intracellular vacuoles and intercellular spaces [Figure 2]. The tumor was 2 × 2 cm grade 1 as classified by

Figure 1. Right retro areolar nodule classified as BI- RADS 4 at mammography.

Figure 2. Abundant eosinophilic secretions in intracellular vacuoles and intercellular spaces (HE × 200).

Scarff Bloom Richardson. The surgical margins were free. Lymph node metastases were detected in one of the 23 dissected lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical staining showed triple negative breast cancer (triple negative for estrogenreceptors, progesterone receptors and Her2/neu).Thereafter the patient was treated by adjuvant chemotherapy (Fluorouracil, Adriamycine, Cyclophosphamide and taxanes) and radiotherapy. She is healthy after more than 24 months of follow- up.

3. Discussion

SBC is a very rare subtype of breast carcinoma. It is reportedas short clinical case series. SBC occurs in both children and adults with a wide age range from 3 to 83 years. Most reported cases are in young women, with a median age of 25 years. Some cases have been also reported in men, mostly in young men with a median age of 19 years. Male to female ratio is 1/6 [3] [4] . The typical clinical presentation is a mobile and palpable mass. The tumor may be non-palpable and be detected by a nipple discharge or by a radiologic lesion. The most common location of SBC appears to be the upper-outer quadrant, but it can occur in any part of the breast [2] [5] [6] . A rare occurrence in the ectopic breast tissue of the axilla has been also reported.

Descriptions of mammographic findings are sparse in the literature. Many case reviews reported that the mammographic findings of SBC are variable and non-specific, ranging from no abnormal findings or benign-looking nodular density to suspicious malignant lesions with spiculated margins or microcalcifications. Sonography frequently showed small well-marginated or partially microlobulatedisoechoic or hypoechoic nodules, indistinguishable from some benign masses as well as other well-circumscribed malignancies [1] [2] [5] [6] .

Secretory breast carcinoma has 2 characteristic histologic features, an abundant periodic Acid Schiff Positive intracellular and extracellular secretions and a granular eosinophilic cell cytoplasm [1] [5] [6] . On immunohistochemistry the tumor cells are positive for S-100 protein but usually negative for estrogenreceptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2/neu (triple negative breast carcinoma). Recent reports suggest that SBC express basal-cell markers including cytokeratins 5, 6, 14 and 17 c-Kit (CD117), epidermal growth factor receptor and Vimentin. Recently, the tumor was found to be associated with a distinct ETV6- NTRK3 mutation which confers the tumor proliferative and survival advantage [7] [8] [9] .

Because SBC is a rare type of breast carcinoma, there are no consensus guidelines for treatment. Recommendations vary among authors. Large surgical excision is the main treatment for SBC. In children local excision with sentinel lymph node mapping is the preferred initial treatment. If sentinel lymph node contain metastatic carcinoma, additional lymph nodes are removed. However, a conservative treatment of the breast is not always possible because of the location of the tumor. Mastectomy is occasionally required and may cause psychosocial difficulties in adolescent females lives [3] [4] [10] . SBC is considered to be more aggressive in adult women than in children. For patients over 20 years old a simple mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy is preferred for neoplasms larger than 2 cm. If the result of sentinel lymph node biopsy is negative, patient can be exempted from axillary lymph node dissection [3] [5] [10] .

The real value of postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy is not yetestablished. Adjuvant radiotherapy may be indicated after conservative surgery in adult patients but is not recommended for the treatment of primary tumors in children because of the risk of significant complications, including pulmonary fibrosis and damage to bone growth. Radiotherapy is usually recommended after local recurrence. Adjuvant chemotherapy is especially indicated in patients with node-positive disease. The hormonal treatment has no place in SBC.

Distant metastases are rare and have been reported in few cases. The local recurrence rate is 33% with breast conservation surgery. Local recurrence may occur after 20 years. Therefore long-term follow-up is necessary. The favorable prognostic factors include tumors less than 2 cm in size, age less than 20 years at the time of diagnosis and tumors with circumscribed margins [1] [5] [10] .

4. Conclusion

SBC is a rare subtype of breast cancer. It is characterized by distinct histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features as well as specific molecular genetics. They usually present as deceptively well-circumscribed mobile and slow-growing masses which may mimic benign lesions clinically and radiologically. SBC occurs in both sexes with a wide age range. Hormone receptors and HER2/neu tests are frequently negative. As a rare type of breast carcinoma, there are at present, no consensus guidelines for treatment. Conservative surgery owing to high rate of local recurrence has the little role in adults. The real value of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy has not been established and further studies are required to establish treatment algorithms and guidelines.

Patient Consent Obtained

The authors report no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.

Cite this paper

Laajili, H., Salem, A.B., Zaidi, S., Bannour, I., Marzouk, K., Korbi, A. and Faleh, R. (2017) Secretory Breast Carcinoma, a Case Report and Lite- rature Review. Open Access Library Jour- nal, 4: e3591. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103591

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