Purpose: To report a new case of invasive cystic hypersecretory carcinoma. The clinical and pathological characteristics of the lesion and a review of the literature are both described.
Methods: A descriptive study of a case of invasive CHC occurring in a 60-yr-old woman is presented. Tumor was standard processed and stained by hematoxylin & eosin, PAS, immunohistochemically examined for ER, PR, C-erbB-2, CEA, thyroglobulin, E-cadherin, S-100 protein, and Cytokeratin5/6.
Results: The tumor, which was 4.7×3.7×3.0 cm, was localized in the upper region of the left breast. This tumor revealed multiple cystic spaces, which were filled with PAS. It was positive for CEA, ER, E-cadherin, and S-100 protein, but negative for thyroglobulin, PR, and C-erbB-2. Cytokeratin5/6 was expressed in the cystic hypersecretory hyperplasia region, but not in the invasive area. The ten-month follow-up period was uneventful.
Conclusions: Cystic hypersecretory carcinoma of the breast is a rare and distinctive variant of ductal carcinoma in situ. It has the potential for invasive growth. As there are few recorded cases, the prognosis in patients with invasive CHC is still uncertain and a matter of intensive debate.
Keywords: Breast; carcinoma; cystic hypersecretory carcinoma; cystic hypersecretory hyperplasia; neoplasms.