Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is analogous to adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands.

Epidemiology

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast constitutes 0.1 to 1.0% of all carcinomas of the breast.

Histopathology

The architectural pattern may be trabecular, cribriform, solid or basaloid, usually a combination of these.

Immunohistochemistry

	adenoid cystic carcinoma	infiltrating tubular carcinoma	infiltrating cribriform carcinoma
oestrogen receptors	3/201	10/101	10/101
progesterone receptors	2/201	16/201
Her2	0/201	3/20(weak and incomplete membrane staining)1
CD117	19/201	0/101	0/101
p63	17/201	0/101	0/101
e-cadherin	18/201	10/101	10/101

Differential diagnosis

Cribriform and tubular carcinoma of breast: both are extensively positive for oestrogen and progesterone receptors but negative for CD117 and p63.

Prognosis

The prognosis is usually good. 10-15% of cases develop metastases to axillary lymph nodes. A solid pattern is associated with more aggressive behaviour, distant metastases and poor five-year survival.

References

1 Mastropasqua MG, Maiorano E, Pruneri G, et al. Immunoreactivity for c-kit and p63 as an adjunct in the diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast. Mod Pathol 2005; 18:1277-82

This page last revised 1.4.2006.