Abstract
Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinoma (NEBC) is a very rare type of breast cancer. Two characteristic biomarkers, namely, CgA and Syn, should be immunohistochemically detected to diagnose NEBC. In this study, a 43-year-old woman with a large mass of 8.3 cm × 2.9 cm in her right breast was reported. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with NEBC after specific markers, including CgA and Syn, as well as few differential markers, such as CK7, ER, PR, C-erbB-2, NSE, and E-cadherin, were immunohistochemically detected. The patient showed a remarkable response to four cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (partial response based on RECIST criteria) and sequentially underwent modified radical mastectomy. Moreover, the diagnosis and treatment of NEBC based on this case and available related literature were discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Feyrter F, Hartmann G. On the carcinoid growth form of the carcinoma mammae, especially the carcinoma solidum (gelatinosum) mammae. Frankf Z Pathol 1963; 73: 24–39 (in German)
Fisher ER, Palekar AS. Solid and mucinous varieties of so-called mammary carcinoid tumors. Am J Clin Pathol 1979; 72(6): 909–916
Azzopardi JG, Muretto P, Goddeeris P, Eusebi V, Lauweryns JM. ‘Carcinoid’ tumours of the breast: the morphological spectrum of argyrophil carcinomas. Histopathology 1982; 6(5): 549–569
Papotti M, Macrì L, Finzi G, Capella C, Eusebi V, Bussolati G. Neuroendocrine differentiation in carcinomas of the breast: a study of 51 cases. Semin Diagn Pathol 1989; 6(2): 174–188
Zadro Z, Fudurić J, Frketić I, Stifter S, Bujas T, Zadro AS, Veir Z, Doko I. Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the breast-a case report. Coll Antropol 2012; 36(3): 1053–1055
Böcker W. WHO classification of breast tumors and tumors of the female genital organs: pathology and genetics. Verh Dtsch Ges Pathol 2002; 86: 116–119 (in German)
Eisenhauer EA, Therasse P, Bogaerts J, Schwartz LH, Sargent D, Ford R, Dancey J, Arbuck S, Gwyther S, Mooney M, Rubinstein L, Shankar L, Dodd L, Kaplan R, Lacombe D, Verweij J. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). Eur J Cancer 2009; 45(2): 228–247
Fujimoto Y, Yagyu R, Murase K, Kawajiri H, Ohtani H, Arimoto Y, Yamamura T, Inoue T, Moritani S. A case of solid neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast in a 40-year-old woman. Breast Cancer 2007; 14(2): 250–253
Adams RF, Parulekar V, Hughes C, Kadour MJ, Talbot D. Radiologic characteristics and management of screen-detected metastatic carcinoid tumor of the breast: a case report. Clin Breast Cancer 2009; 9(3): 189–192
Sapino A, Righi L, Cassoni P, Papotti M, Pietribiasi F, Bussolati G. Expression of the neuroendocrine phenotype in carcinomas of the breast. Semin Diagn Pathol 2000; 17(2): 127–137
Thomas P, Battifora H, Manderino GL, Patrick J. A monoclonal antibody against neuron-specific enolase. Immunohistochemical comparison with a polyclonal antiserum. Am J Clin Pathol 1987; 88(2): 146–152
Sapino A, Bussolati G. Is detection of endocrine cells in breast adenocarcinoma of diagnostic and clinical significance? Histopathology 2002; 40(3): 211–214
Maluf HM, Koerner FC. Carcinomas of the breast with endocrine differentiation: a review. Virchows Arch 1994; 425(5): 449–457
Sanguinetti A, Santoprete S, Lucchini R, Triola R, Loreti F, Avenia N. A rare breast tumor: solid neuroendocrine carcinoma. Ann Ital Chir 2013; 84(1): 81–85
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wei, X., Chen, C., Xi, D. et al. A case of primary neuroendocrine breast carcinoma that responded to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Front. Med. 9, 112–116 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-014-0345-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-014-0345-z