Invasive papillary carcinoma of the breast: a rare case report

Abstract

Invasive Papillary Carcinomas (IPC) are rare and account for approximately 0.5% of all invasive breast carcinomas. Most of them are seen in post-menopausal women and have a good prognosis. These tumors lack the myoepithelial cell layer (MCL) within the papillae or at the periphery of the tumor with areas showing stromal invasion or invasion into lymphovascular spaces. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for myoepithelial cells and basement membrane is essential for the diagnosis of invasive cancer. We present a rare case of IPC in a 74-year-old woman who presented with complaints of gradually increasing painless retroaerolar mass in the left breast of two months duration. The mass was irregular, having an oblong as well an adjacent high density mass lesion on mammography. Ultrasound (US), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) helped in the diagnosis of the possibility of a malignant breast lesion. Left-sided modified radical mastectomy was performed and the specimen was histopathologically diagnosed as Invasive Papillary carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis. Invasive Papillary Carcinomas of the breast are rare cancers in post-menopausal women. We have highlighted the role of Mammography, US, and MRI in early diagnosis so that timely management is possible.