title: Breast adenomyoepithelioma: a case report with malignant proliferation of epithelial and myoepithelial elements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast adenomyoepithelioma is an unusual tumor characterized by a biphasic proliferation of epithelial and myoepithelial cells. Most breast adenomyoepitheliomas are considered to be benign or to have a low-grade malignant potential, characterized by propensity for local recurrence. Malignant changes arising in this lesion are extremely rare and may involve one or both cellular components.
  
  
  METHODS
  We discuss a case of a 60 year-old woman who began to experience pain in her right breast in January 2009. Breast ultrasound and mammography were performed showing a rounded, hypoechoic solid lesion with ill-defined margins in the right inner-inferior quadrant, suspicious of malignancy. Quadrantectomy of the inner-inferior quadrant of the right breast with sampling of ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes was performed. The histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of adenomyoepithelioma with focal malignant change of the epithelial component, associated with high-grade malignant myoepithelial change. The patient was treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and her right breast received a dose of Gy 50 with a boost of Gy 10 to the tumor bed. At present, the patient shows no sign of tumor recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast malignant adenomyoepithelioma is a rare tumor which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of other solid breast lesions. Only few cases have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis, optimal therapy and predicting the outcome are problematic issues due to the rarity of this disease which appears to have hematogenous rather than lymphatic spread and usually occurs in primary tumors ≥ 1.6 cm in size.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petrozza
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasciuti
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacchiarotti
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomao
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zoratto
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Censi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sardella
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Cristofano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Histopathology Unit, Polo Pontino - Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy. natale.porta@alice.it.
authors.forename: Natale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Rocca
mesh_terms: D055331:Adenomyoepithelioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor