Breast epithelial cells in dermal angiolymphatic spaces: a manifestation of benign mechanical transport.
Evidence suggesting that breast epithelial cells may reach axillary lymph nodes by benign mechanical transport (BMT), rather than metastatic means, has been recently reported. We report a case of a patient with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, who had displaced epithelial elements in the mastectomy specimen, dermal angiolymphatic spaces, and a sentinel lymph node. We attribute the epithelial aggregates in the dermal angiolymphatic spaces and a single cell in the sentinel lymph node to BMT, based on the clinicopathological findings of the case. We, therefore, suggest that the effects of BMT be considered in the differential diagnosis of epithelial aggregates in dermal angiolymphatic spaces in the appropriate clinicopathological setting.
Diaz
Nils M
NM
Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA. diaznm@moffitt.usf.edu
Mayes
Janet Rigberg
JR
Vrcel
Vesna
V
D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002465:Cell Movement; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008408:Mastectomy; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
D007633:Keratins