Report on a case of pure cribriform carcinoma of the breast with internal mammary node metastasis: description of the case and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Pure ductal invasive carcinoma of the breast is more frequently associated with lymphatic invasion, lymph node involvement and high malignant histological grade than combined forms of breast carcinoma. Internal mammary node metastases are not frequently detected when the axillary nodes are negative.


METHODS
We report our experience of a case of pure cribriform carcinoma, associated with an intraductal cribriform component, in which the sentinel axillary nodes were negative, while nodal and perinodal metastasis was detected in one internal mammary lymph node.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from the literature show that positive internal mammary nodes are an unusual finding when the axillary sentinel node is negative, especially in cases of cancer with a relatively good prognosis, such as cribriform cases.
Gatti
Giovanna
G
Division of Breast Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. giovanna.gatti@ieo.it
Pruneri
Giancarlo
G
Gilardi
Daniela
D
Brenelli
Fabricio
F
Bassani
Guillermo
G
Luini
Alberto
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged