TY - JOUR
T1 - Invasive mammary carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation
T2 - Histological features and diagnostic challenges
AU - Tang, Feng
AU - Wei, Bing
AU - Tian, Zhen
AU - Gilcrease, Michael Z.
AU - Huo, Lei
AU - Albarracin, Constance T.
AU - Resetkova, Erika
AU - Zhang, Hong
AU - Sahin, Aysegul
AU - Chen, Jieqing
AU - Bu, Hong
AU - Abraham, Susan
AU - Wu, Yun
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - The aim of this study was to review the histomorphological features of primary neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) of the breast, in order to identify features useful in recognition of this entity for appropriate classification. Methods and results: 2003 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the breast and female genital organs defined NEC of the breast as a subtype of invasive mammary carcinoma in which >50% of the tumor cells express neuroendocrine markers. Seventy-four cases that fulfilled the WHO diagnostic criteria for NEC of the breast, excluding small cell carcinoma and low-grade solid papillary carcinoma with a predominant in-situ component, were identified between 1984 and 2008 from MD Anderson Cancer Center, and were included in the study. NECs of the breast had variable histomorphological features. The most common histologic patterns were papillary (80%) and nested (64%). Mixed growth patterns were common (59%), including admixed ductal component. The tumor cells could be polygonal, round, plasmacytoid, spindled, or with signet ring cell features. The cytoplasm could be granular, eosinophilic, clear, or finely vacuolated. These tumors frequently mimicked invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma, or invasive lobular carcinoma. Conclusions: NEC of the breast is underrecognized. Careful attention to cytologic and architectural features can help to identify cases that require further immunophenotypic confirmation for correct tumor classification.
AB - The aim of this study was to review the histomorphological features of primary neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) of the breast, in order to identify features useful in recognition of this entity for appropriate classification. Methods and results: 2003 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors of the breast and female genital organs defined NEC of the breast as a subtype of invasive mammary carcinoma in which >50% of the tumor cells express neuroendocrine markers. Seventy-four cases that fulfilled the WHO diagnostic criteria for NEC of the breast, excluding small cell carcinoma and low-grade solid papillary carcinoma with a predominant in-situ component, were identified between 1984 and 2008 from MD Anderson Cancer Center, and were included in the study. NECs of the breast had variable histomorphological features. The most common histologic patterns were papillary (80%) and nested (64%). Mixed growth patterns were common (59%), including admixed ductal component. The tumor cells could be polygonal, round, plasmacytoid, spindled, or with signet ring cell features. The cytoplasm could be granular, eosinophilic, clear, or finely vacuolated. These tumors frequently mimicked invasive or in situ ductal carcinoma, or invasive lobular carcinoma. Conclusions: NEC of the breast is underrecognized. Careful attention to cytologic and architectural features can help to identify cases that require further immunophenotypic confirmation for correct tumor classification.
KW - Breast
KW - Histological features
KW - Invasive carcinoma
KW - Neuroendocrine carcinoma
KW - Neuroendocrine differentiation
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03880.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03880.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21668471
AN - SCOPUS:79960453740
SN - 0309-0167
VL - 59
SP - 106
EP - 115
JO - Histopathology
JF - Histopathology
IS - 1
ER -