Breast carcinoma with endocrine features. Report of a case with cytologic and immunohistochemical studies.
BACKGROUND
Endocrine differentiation in breast cancer in females is uncommon and well established, while only rare articles reported the cytologic features.


METHODS
Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with endocrine features occurred in an 83-year-old female. The aspirates were hypercellular, containing many cohesive aggregates of uniform, round cells with central nuclei and granular cytoplasm intermixed with fine capillary vessels. The subsequent mastectomy specimen contained a well-delimitated tumor mass measuring 2.5 cm in diameter. Microscopically the tumor was formed by a typical solid and organoid pattern of growth. Immunohistochemical study showed positivity for estrogen and progesterone receptors, cytokeratins and chromogranin. None of 10 axillary lymph nodes contained metastasis. The patient was well seven months after surgery. The cytologic features encompassed signs of endocrine differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the clinicopathologic features of a ductal infiltrating carcinoma with endocrine features and renders the clues to cytologic diagnosis with accuracy on fine needle aspiration.
Department of Pathology, Hospital Marina Alta, Denia, Alicante, Spain.
J B
JB
Laforga
J I
JI
López
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis; D004702:Endocrine Glands; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone; D007633:Keratins