[Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: case report of a sarcomatoid type and literature review].
OBJECTIVE
Metaplastic changes are a rare entity that occurs in fewer than 5% of breast carcinomas. Their sarcomatoid variant is the rarest primary malignancy of the breast. We report a case of sarcomatoid breast cancer and insist on the diagnosis and treatment of this rare tumor.


METHODS
A 71-year-old female patient presented for a right breast mass above the nipple, between the upper inner and upper outer quadrants, of 20 mm of diameter, highly dense on mammography with cystic and solid components on ultrasound. Core biopsy showed a probable sarcoma whereas the partial mastectomy revealed the sarcomatoid metaplastic breast carcinoma. The workout for distant metastasis was negative and the treatment was completed by a modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant CMF chemotherapy. Six months after treatment there was no evidence of locoregional recurrence nor distant metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Although metaplastic carcinoma is a rare breast malignancy, with no specific clinical or radiologic features, it should be considered as an independent entity and included in the differential diagnosis of breast tumors.
Abboud
Bassam
B
Services de Chirurgie générale, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de France, Faculté de Médecine, Université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban. dbabboud@yahoo.fr
Abou Jaoude
Suha
S
Breidi
Carla
C
Abadjian
Gérard
G
Chahine
Georges
G
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography