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Kishor et al., Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2014;3(3):762-765

International Journal of Medical Research
&
Health Sciences
www.ijmrhs.com Volume 3 Issue 3 Coden: IJMRHS Copyright @2014 ISSN: 2319-5886
Received: 4
th
May 2014 Revised: 5
th
Jun 2014 Accepted: 16
th
Jun 2014
Case report
AN UNUSUAL CASE OF INTRACYSTIC PAPILLARY CARCINOMA OF BREAST WITH INVASIVE
COMPONENT
*Suryawanshi Kishor H
1
, Nikumbh Dhiraj B
2
, Damle Rajshri P
1
, Dravid NV
3
, Tayde Yogesh
4
1
Assistant Professor,
2
Associate Professor,
3
Professor and Head,
4
Assistant Lecturer, Department of Pathology,
JMFs ACPM Medical College, Dhule, Maharashtra
*Corresponding author email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Papillary carcinoma of the breast is a rare malignant tumor, constituting 1-2 % of breast neoplasms mostly
affecting elderly postmenopausal women. Intracystic (Encysted) papillary carcinoma (IPC) is a rare distinct entity
with slow growth rate and overall favourable prognosis regardless of whether it is in situ alone or associated with
invasive component. Treatment modalities vary from conservative surgery to radical surgery with or without
adjuvant therapy depending upon the associated component (DCIS or invasive) of the tumor.
Herein, we report a case of 55-year-old female presented with a painless lump in the right breast. FNAC yielded
haemorrhagic fluid with scanty cellularity of atypical ductal epithelial cells. Patient underwent wide local
excision. The final histopathological diagnosis revealed intracystic papillary carcinoma associated with invasive
ductal carcinoma, NOS type.
Keywords: Intracystic, Invasive, Papillary carcinoma, Wide local excision.
INTRODUCTION
Intracystic (encysted) papillary carcinoma (IPC) is a
rare distinct entity of breast cancer, accounting for 1-
2 % of all breast tumors.
1
IPC usually occur in an
elderly postmenopausal woman with the subtle
clinical presentation of painless breast lump and
bloody nipple discharge. Papillary lesions of breast
are categorised into invasive and noninvasive
papillary carcinoma by Carter et al.
2
Noninvasive
papillary carcinoma is further subdivided into a
diffuse form of papillary variant of DCIS and a
localised form of solitary intracystic (encysted)
papillary carcinoma. IPC are further classified into
pure IPC or associated with DCIS or with invasive
component.
3
We report a case of IPC with invasion in
an elderly woman along with the brief review of
literature.
CASE REPORT
A 55-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with
a lump in the right breast since 6 months. Initially the
lump was small in size, gradually enlarged to present
size. There was no history of nipple discharge or
family history of breast carcinoma. Local
examination revealed a lump measuring 4cmsx3cms
in the right upper and outer quadrant. Overlying skin
was not involved. There was no evidence of axillary
lymphadenopathy. Contralateral breast was
unremarkable. FNA cytology was repeatedly
haemorrhagic and smears revealed few clusters of
atypical ductal epithelial cells admixed with cyst
macrophages and biopsy was advised. Laboratory
investigations, including the haematological and
biochemical parameters were within normal limits
DOI: 10.5958/2319-5886.2014.00440.8
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Kishor et al., Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2014;3(3):762-765
Ultrasonographic findings revealed a complex cystic
mass with solid component. Patient underwent wide
local excision of right breast lump without sentinel
lymph node biopsy. On gross examination excised
specimen measured 6cmsx4cmsx2cms, externally
well circumscribed. Cut section showed a cystic mass
4cmx3cm filled with friable papillary greyish white
tumor mass. The surrounding areas show irregular
greyish white tumor measuring 2cmsx1cm. The
margins of excised mass appeared grossly uninvolved
by tumor [Fig-1].Histopathological examination
showed tumor arranged in papillary pattern, at places
showing solid and trabecular pattern with individual
tumor cells showing hyperchromatic pleomorphic
nuclei with prominent nucleoli and moderate
eosinophilic cytoplasm [Fig-2]. Mitotic count was 8-
10 /hpf. Focal areas of necrosis evident in between
papillae. [Fig-2] Surrounding breast parenchyma
showed an invasive component with the morphology
of infiltrating duct carcinoma (NOS) type [Fig-3].
Final histopathological diagnosis given was
Intracystic papillary carcinoma with invasive
component. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) study
revealed tumor cells were negative for estrogen (ER),
progesterone (PR), Her2neu and smooth muscle actin
(SMA) revealing absent myoepithelial cell layer.
Proliferative index (Ki 67) was 80% suggestive of
high grade tumor [Fig-4]. Patient was referred for
adjuvant treatment and was free from disease after 6
months of follow up.
Fig 1: Gross photograph of excised specimen
Wide local excision specimen, 6x4x2 cms, externally
well circumscribed. Cut section-- cystic mass 4x3
cms filled with friable papillary greyish white tumour
mass with infiltration in the surrounding breast
parenchyma.
Fig 2: Histopathological examination of tumour
Showing tumour arranged in papillary pattern, at
places showing solid and trabecular pattern with
individual tumour cells showing hyperchromatic
pleomorphic nuclei with prominent nucleoli and
moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm.
Mitotic count was 8-10 /hpf. Focal areas of necrosis
were evident in between the papillae. [Haematoxylin
and Eosin, X 100]
Fig 3: Surrounding breast parenchyma
Showed invasive component with morphology of
infiltrating duct carcinoma (NOS) type
[Haematoxylin and Eosin, X 100]
Fig 4: IHC study revealed tumour cells
IHC study revealed tumour cells were negative for
estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and smooth muscle
actin (SMA) revealing absent myoepithelial cell layer.
Proliferative index (Ki 67) was 80%. [ IHC, X 100]
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Kishor et al., Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2014;3(3):762-765
DISCUSSION
The papillary carcinoma of the breast is characterized
by a papillary growth pattern with thin fibrovascular
stalk lined by neoplastic epithelial cells. Malignant
papillary neoplasms of the breast consist of a wide
spectrum of lesions that include ductal carcinoma in
situ arising in intraductal papilloma, papillary DCIS,
encapsulated papillary carcinoma, solid papillary
carcinoma and invasive papillary carcinoma. Lack of
myoepithelial cell layer within papillae differentiates
benign papillary neoplasm from malignant papillary
neoplasm.
4
Intracystic papillary carcinoma is a
solitary, centrally located malignant papillary
proliferation within an encysted or cystically dilated
duct. Traditionally, IPC was considered to be a
variant subtype of DCIS but a recent review of
literature shows its association with DCIS or invasive
breast cancer in about 40% cases.
5
In IPC (pure)
form, solid papillary tumor is confined within a cystic
dilated duct without DCIS or invasion into the
surrounding tissue. A minority of IPC may be
associated with invasive component without features
of papillary tumor but rather show morphological
features of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise
specified type.
4
Similar morphological features were
noted in our case. Detection of associated pathology
(DCIS or invasive form) is the mainstay as prognosis
and treatment modalities depend upon these
associated lesions.
6
Usually intracystic papillary
breast cancers reveal low or intermediate nuclear
grade without necrosis. They show strong
immunopositivity for estrogen and progesterone
receptor and negativity for Her2 neu.
7
IPC associated
with invasive carcinoma are of high nuclear grade
and necrosis. In our case IHC study showed ER, PR,
SMA, Her2 neu negativity with high proliferation
index. Histopathological findings revealed high
nuclear grade and necrosis.
Papillary carcinoma of breast generally occurs in
elderly postmenopausal women aged 63- 67 years.
Clinically, patient presents with palpable mass or
bloody nipple discharge. It may also manifest as
asymptomatic lesion identified at screening
mammography.
Radiological findings may show on mammography as
an oval or lobulated, circumscribed lesion and on
USG as a complex cystic mass with solid component
but differentiation between invasive and papillary
DCIS is difficult and requires histopathological
confirmation.
8
Cytological diagnosis may be inconclusive as aspirate
from cystic component yield haemorrhagic fluid,
most of the time which could be negative for
malignancy and give false negative result as occurred
in our case. Ultrasound guided core biopsy of
suspected intracystic mass has been suggested by
many authors to differentiate benign from malignant
papillary neoplasms but failed to distinguish in situ
from invasive papillary carcinoma as invasion is
found in peripheral part of the tumor.
9
Tomonori et
al
10
, also suggested necessity of excisional biopsy .
FNA and core needle biopsy have not found
sufficient most of the time.
Review of literature showed no definitive guidelines
for treatment of IPC. In case of IPC alone, IPC with
DCIS and IPC with invasion complete surgical
excision of the tumor with clear surgical margins is
the recommended surgical management.
11
Sentinel
lymph node biopsy may be alternative to full axillary
dissection in patient with IPC and associated invasive
carcinoma.
12
Wide local excision was performed in
our case in view of atypical ductal epithelial cells on
cytology and sentinel lymph node biopsy was not
done. Data published in many articles recommends
adjuvant radiotherapy for IPC associated with
invasion and or DCIS. Fayanju et al
6
concluded that
most important factor determining use of
radiotherapy and endocrine therapy is associated
pathology and patients with pure IPC were less likely
to undergo radio and endocrine therapies.
Although rare, IPC has an excellent prognosis. The
largest reported study of 917 cases carried out on IPC
patients found no difference in the relative
cumulative survival rate in the patients with IPC
alone or associated invasive cancer followed up at 10
years.
13
CONCLUSION
To conclude, intracystic papillary carcinoma is a rare
breast malignancy with favourable prognosis. We are
presenting this case of IPC with an invasive
component in view of its rarity with favourable
prognosis.
Conflict of interest: Nil
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Kishor et al., Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2014;3(3):762-765
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