title: Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: radiologic and pathologic findings.
abstract: Some breast neoplasms are classified as primary neuroendocrine carcinomas because they are positive for neuroendocrine markers. Although neuroendocrine carcinomas can originate from various organs of the body, primary neuroendocrine carcinomas of the breast are extremely rare. The diagnosis of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast can only be made if nonmammary sites are confidently excluded or if an in situ component can be found. Here we report a primary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNL) involving the left breast. Breast ultrasonography revealed a lobulated, heterogeneous, low-echoic mass in the left breast, and the lesion appeared as a well-defined, highly-enhancing mass on a chest computed tomography scan. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was performed on the mass, and primary LCNC was confirmed by histopathologic examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ok Hee
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Kyu Ran
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Bo Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Hwan Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Aeree
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography