Secretory breast carcinoma: A report of three cases and a review of the literature

Abstract

Secretory breast carcinoma is a very rare and distinct subtype of breast cancer, characterized by the presence of intracellular and extracellular secretory material. Secretory breast carcinoma has a good clinical outcome and systemic involvement is rare. The majority of studies of this tumor have been case reports or separate analyses, and due to the rarity of these tumors, it has been difficult to fully elucidate their characteristics and define optimal treatment strategies. To add to the current knowledge of secretory breast carcinoma, the present study reports three cases of secretory breast carcinoma in patients of different ages, and with different hormone receptor statuses and treatment methods. The present study identified that each patient with secretory breast carcinoma may present with different symptoms and clinical characteristics. Therefore, therapeutic options should be selected based on the overall status of the patient and the characteristics of this rare disease.

Secretory carcinoma of the breast: clinicopathologic profile of 14 cases emphasising distant metastatic potential

“…The primary treatment approach to secretory carcinoma is surgery. Breast‐conserving surgery appears to be the treatment of choice for children . Most paediatric and adult patients in our study group underwent excisional biopsy.…”

Secretory breast carcinoma in a 6-year-old girl: mastectomy with sentinel lymph node dissection

“…Involvement of more than three lymph nodes may indicate a risk for distant metastasis and poor outcome [7]. Therefore, examination of lymph node status using sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection should be performed [7]. In our patient, preoperative ultrasound showed axillary lymph node.…”

“…It accounts for less than 0.1 % of all childhood tumors [7]. Since, the most common presentation of SBC was seen at mean age of 9 years, the tumor was named formerly as juvenile carcinoma [2].…”

“…Secretory breast carcinoma is a rare and distinct type of breast cancer, characterized by intracellular and extracellular secretory material [7]. It accounts for less than 0.1 % of all childhood tumors [7].…”

“…Although, it has been widely used in adults, intravital staining and radioisotope detection has limited use in children. Involvement of more than three lymph nodes may indicate a risk for distant metastasis and poor outcome [7]. Therefore, examination of lymph node status using sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection should be performed [7].…”