Mucinous breast carcinomas with abundant intracytoplasmic mucin and neuroendocrine features: light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study.
Eight mucinous carcinomas of the breast were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry; one was studied by electron microscopy. All 8 cases had abundant, relatively clear cytoplasm that contained mucin. Cells were argyrophil positive and argentaffin negative. Eight cases were positive for neuron specific enolase (NSE), 5 cases for serotonin, 1 case for serotonin and somatostatin and 2 cases for serotonin, somatostatin, and gastrin. None had clinical evidence of abnormal neuroendocrine function. Three patients had axillary lymph node metastases. Only 1 of 5 patients in whom there was clinical followup died of her disease. Electron microscopy of one case showed abundant intracytoplasmic and extracellular mucin, round and pleomorphic dense-core granules, numerous cell processes, and aggregates of intermediate filaments. These cases expand the histologic spectrum of breast carcinomas which may show neuroendocrine differentiation.
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism
D005755:Gastrins; D009077:Mucins; D012701:Serotonin; D013004:Somatostatin