Background: Encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the breast is rare, making difficult diagnosis and resulting in patients undergoing excision biopsy before definitive surgery. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse. We would like to further elucidate the clinicopathological, treatment and survival outcomes.
Materials and methods: 54 patients identified, with a median follow up duration of 48 months. Patients' demographics, radiological and clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, adjuvant therapies as well as survival data were analysed.
Results: 18 (33.3%) cases were pure EPC, 12 (22.2%) were EPC associated with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 24 (44.4%) cases had concurrent invasive ductal carcinoma. EPCs were more likely to present as a solid-cystic mass on sonography (63.8%), regular-shaped (oval or round) (97.9%), lack spiculations (95.7%) and lack suspicious microcalcifications (95.6%). Median tumour size was largest in the EPC with IDC group (18.5 mm). 2 patients developed loco-regional recurrence. Overall survival is good for EPCs of all subtypes.
Conclusion: EPC is a rare tumour with excellent prognosis.
Keywords: breast; encapsulated; papillary.
© 2023 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.