Journal of Medical & Surgical Pathology
Open Access

Histiocytoid breast carcinoma: Report of three cases with diagnostic pitfalls

Joint Event on 15^th International Conference on Surgical Pathology and Cancer Diagnosis & 4^th International Conference on General Practice & Primary Care

April 15-16, 2019 Berlin, Germany

Adoke Kasimu Umar and Ibrahim Hassan

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Med Surg Pathol

Abstract :

Background: Histiocytoid breast carcinoma is considered by many pathologists as a variant of lobular carcinoma and its bland histological appearance may mimic some benign and malignant conditions of the breast. We report three cases of histiocytoid breast carcinoma with two occurring at a younger age group.

Methods: This is a three year prospective study of three patients that had radical mastectomies. Specimen was fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Slides were stained with H&E. Immunohistochemical stains were performed using five antibodies, EMA, E- cadherin, ER, PR, and Her2 using DB Biotech protocol.

Results: Three patients aged 25, 36 and 65 years were seen during the study period. Histo-morphology shows tumor cells growing in nests and Indian file pattern. The cells appear histiocytoid with abundant foamy cytoplasm with a ground glass appearance. Some cells show cytoplasmic vacuoles and central prominent nucleolus. E-cadherin was not expressed by tumor cells. Tumor cells were positive for EMA. ER, PR and Her2 staining were variably expressed.

Conclusion: Evidence shows that histiocytoid breast carcinoma is likely a variant of invasive lobular carcinoma. In our environment it can present at a very young age and can mimic some conditions of the breast like granular cell tumor, apocrine carcinoma of the breast, it can also mimic metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the breast.

Recent Publications

1. Tan P H, Harada O, Thike A A and Tse G M (2011) Histiocytoid breast carcinoma: an enigmatic lobular entity. J Clin Pathol. 64(8):654-659.

2. Gupta D, Croitoru C M, Ayala A G, Sahin A A and Middleton L P (2002) E-cadherin immunohistochemical analysis of histiocytoid carcinoma of the breast. Ann Diagn Pathol. 6(3):141-147.

Biography :

Adoke Kasimu Umar is a young consultant pathologist from a resource poor setting in Nigeria with special interest in Molecular Pathology and Translational Medicine. He has published more than 20 papers in reputable local and international journals.

E-mail: kasimuadoke@gmail.com