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Breast secretory carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study of four cases

  • Published:
The Chinese-German Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Objective

To explore the clinicopathologic features of secretory carcinoma of breast (SCB).

Methods

Four cases of SCB were analyzed by light microscopy, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The clinical data were also analyzed. Special staining of periodic acid-Schiff reaction with diastase pretreatment, immunohistochemical staining of ER, PR, HER-2, p53, MIB-1, S-100, p63, CK8/18 and EMA by En Vision method were performed.

Results

Solid, cribriform, tubular, or papillary architecture may be seen. Tumor forms cystic spaces filled with abundant pale pink secretory material, positive with diastase resistant periodic acid-Schiff (PAS-DR) stains. Tumor cells were small with bland nuclei and abundant pale, eosinophilic cytoplasm, rare mitotic activity and necrosis. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for CK8/18, EMA, negative for S-100, p63 and variable partially positive for p53, ER, PR, HER-2 and MIB-1. Under electron microscopy, the tumor cells possessed numerous membrane-bound secretory vacuoles in cytoplasm lined by microvilli.

Conclusion

SCB is a rare, low-malignant neoplasm. SCB have pathology, clinical picture, treatment, follow-up, immunohistochemical and genetic features that distinguish them from invasive ductal carcinomas of the usual type.

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Correspondence to Yihua Chen.

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Chen, Y., Li, J., Jian, Y. et al. Breast secretory carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study of four cases. Chin. -Ger. J. Clin. Oncol. 8, 329–331 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-009-0060-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-009-0060-4

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