Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: Mammographic and sonographic findings

Abstract

Purpose We investigated the mammographic, sonographic, and pathologic findings in metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. Methods The mammographic (n = 16) and sonographic (n = 11) findings in 16 patients with metaplastic carcinoma of the breast were analyzed retrospectively along with pathologic findings. Whenever possible, results of preoperative fine‐needle aspiration biopsy and immunohistochemical studies were obtained. Results All patients presented with a palpable breast mass. The mean size of the lesions at pathologic examination was 4.2 cm. On mammography, 15 patients had a mass (1 patient had 2 masses), and 1 patient had only clustered microcalcifications without an associated mass. The mean longest diameter of the 16 masses on mammography was 4.6 cm. Eleven lesions (69%) were round to ovoid in shape, 13 lesions (81%) showed ill‐defined or obscured margins, and 10 lesions (63%) showed associated architectural distortion. On sonography, 6 (55%) of 11 lesions were round to ovoid, 9 lesions (82%) had well‐defined margins, and 6 lesions (55%) showed complex echogenicity with solid and cystic components. At pathologic examination, 4 of these 6 lesions showed hemorrhagic or cystic necrosis. Axillary lymph nodes were positive in 6 (40%) of 15 patients in whom axillary node dissection was performed. Conclusions Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast manifests as a rapidly growing, mammographically ill‐defined round mass with associated architectural distortion on mammograms. Complex echogenicity with solid and cystic components may be seen sonographically and is related to hemorrhagic or cystic necrosis seen pathologically. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 28:179–186, 2000.

Breast Carcinosarcomas

“…These tumors are detected in the form of a heterogeneous mass containing cystic components on USG (15). They usually appear as well-defined, lobulated contoured and high-density masses on MMG, however they might also be seen in the form of spicules (15). They usually appear iso-hypointense on T1 MRI, due to glandular tissue.…”

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: Imaging and pathological features

“…Therefore, the present results are not consistent with those of previous studies (9,10). This may be due to the majority of patients in the present study possessing squamous cell carcinoma (53.8%), the biological behavior of which is similar to that of invasive ductal carcinoma with invasive growth.…”

Carcinoma metaplásico de mama: Revisión a propósito de un caso

“…El carcinoma metaplásico de mama es un tumor raro que representa menos del 5% de los tumores malignos de mama (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). El primer problema que se plantea es de nomenclatura ya que no está bien definida y varía según los autores, refiriéndose a este tipo de tumores con diferentes denominaciones, que no siempre engloban a los mismos tipos.…”

“…Basándonos en la definición de metaplasia como la trasformación de un tejido en otro 3 , el término carcinoma metaplásico englobaría a todos aquellos tumores con diferenciaciones distintas de las esperadas para un carcinoma ductal o lobulillar de mama y se dividirí-an en: carcinoma productor de matriz (tanto ósea como cartilaginosa), carcinoma de células fusiformes (monofásico), carcinosarcoma (con un patrón bifásico epitelial y estromal), carcinoma de células escamosas y carcinoma metaplásico con células gigantes osteoclás-ticas 5 . En cuanto a la presentación, se puede decir que es un tumor que aparece más frecuentemente en mujeres de edad más avanzada (55-60 años de media) 2,6,7 Fig .…”

“…La bibliografía es muy limitada y los estudios descriptivos publicados cuentan con un bajo nú-mero de casos, siendo difícil obtener conclusiones definitivas y extrapolables, especialmente a la hora de tomar decisiones terapéuticas [1][2][3][4][5] . Desde el punto de vista histopatológico, este tumor puede presentar dificultades de diagnóstico diferencial con otros tumores primarios de la mama.…”