17.01.2014 Views

Invasive breast carcinoma - IARC

Invasive breast carcinoma - IARC

Invasive breast carcinoma - IARC

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

A<br />

Fig. 1.50 Carcinosarcoma. A Two aggregates of <strong>carcinoma</strong> are separated by abundant sarcoma. B Immunostaining shows absence of reactivity with Kermix in the mesenchymal<br />

component, while the epithelial cells are positive.<br />

B<br />

The squamous and adenosquamous<br />

<strong>carcinoma</strong> should be distinguished from<br />

pleomorphic <strong>carcinoma</strong>s that may have<br />

either pattern admixed with a large number<br />

of bizarre tumour giant cells; this distinction<br />

is important as pleomorphic <strong>carcinoma</strong>s<br />

are far more aggressive than<br />

either squamous or adenosquamous<br />

<strong>carcinoma</strong>.<br />

Adeno<strong>carcinoma</strong>s with chondroid differentiation<br />

should be distinguished from<br />

pleomorphic adenomas. Pleomorphic<br />

adenomas invariably have a myoepithelial<br />

cell component (that may be dominant<br />

in some tumours) growing around<br />

spaces lined by benign epithelial cells.<br />

Myoepithelial cells are not evident in<br />

adeno<strong>carcinoma</strong>s with chondroid differentiation.<br />

Prognosis and predictive factors of<br />

metaplastic <strong>carcinoma</strong>s<br />

Given the tumour size of >3-4 cm in<br />

many cases, metastases to axillary<br />

nodes are relatively uncommon; approximately<br />

10-15% of pure squamous cell<br />

<strong>carcinoma</strong>s have axillary node metastases<br />

{503,1928}. About 19-25% of those<br />

with chondro-osseous elements have<br />

a x i l l a ry node metastases {752,1273,<br />

2259}, and 21% have distant metastases<br />

{752}. Axillary node metastases were<br />

more common (56%) among tumours<br />

with spindle and squamous metaplasia<br />

in Huvos’s study {239}, however. When<br />

metaplastic <strong>carcinoma</strong>s metastasize to<br />

the axillary nodes or beyond, they retain<br />

and often manifest their metaplastic<br />

potential. In studies combining <strong>carcinoma</strong>s<br />

with chondroid and osseous metaplasia,<br />

the five year survival has ranged<br />

from 28-68% {474,1273,3060}; those with<br />

spindle or squamous differentiation have<br />

a 63% 5-year survival {1273}. Advanced<br />

stage and lymph node involvement is<br />

associated with a more aggre s s i v e<br />

course as anticipated. Among squamous<br />

cell <strong>carcinoma</strong>s, the acantholytic variant<br />

may exhibit a more aggressive behaviour<br />

{807}.<br />

The carc i n o s a rcomas are very aggre s-<br />

sive tumours. Some metastasize as<br />

mixed epithelial and mesenchymal<br />

tumours, while only the epithelial or the<br />

s a rcomatous component may metastasize<br />

in others.<br />

T h e re is not much information available<br />

on the efficacy of current therapies in<br />

the management of metaplastic carc i-<br />

n o m a s .<br />

Lipid-rich <strong>carcinoma</strong><br />

Definition<br />

A <strong>breast</strong> <strong>carcinoma</strong> in which approximately<br />

90% of neoplastic cells contain<br />

abundant cytoplasmic neutral lipids.<br />

ICD-O code 8314/3<br />

Synonym<br />

Lipid secreting <strong>carcinoma</strong>.<br />

Epidemiology<br />

Using conventional morphological features<br />

only (i.e. foamy to vacuolated clear<br />

cells), incidences of

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!