Argyrophilic carcinoma of the male breast. A neuroendocrine tumor containing predominantly chromogranin B (secretogranin I).
Argyrophilic tumors were diagnosed in 28 of 134 (20.8%) consecutive male patients who had a carcinoma of the breast removed between 1961 and 1990. Histologically, most argyrophilic tumors showed uniform cellularity and prevalent expansive growth. Ultrastructural observation disclosed the presence of electron-dense cored granules in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. By immunocytochemistry, 17 of 28 argyrophilic tumors (60.7%) contained chromogranin B (secretogranin I)-immunoreactive cells, whereas chromogranin A was present in four of these 17 tumors only (14.2%). Immunoblotting studies showed chromogranin B immunoreactivity similar to that found in normal neuroendocrine cells. Despite these findings, which would argue for a distinct morphologic and immunochemical entity, no statistically significant differences between argyrophilic and common male breast carcinomas were found when a number of clinicopathologic features and relapse-free survival were considered.
Division of Anatomic Pathology and Cytology, National Tumor Institute, Milan, Italy.
L
L
Scopsi
S
S
Andreola
R
R
Saccozzi
S
S
Pilotti
P
P
Boracchi
P
P
Rosa
A R
AR
Conti
A
A
Manzari
W B
WB
Huttner
F
F
Rilke
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D053379:Chromogranin A; D053378:Chromogranin B; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
C506134:CHGB protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D053378:Chromogranin B; D002864:Chromogranins