Sarcoma of the breast. A study of 32 patients with reappraisal of classification and therapy

CIC-rearranged sarcoma in the breast: A series of 3 rare cases with literature review

Capticua transcriptional repressor (CIC)-rearranged sarcoma represents a distinct highly aggressive, undifferentiated round cell sarcomas, which most commonly affects young adults. The tumor typically arises in the deep soft tissues of the limbs and trunk, followed by the head and neck region, and is rarely found in visceral organs. CIC-rearranged sarcoma originating in the breast is extremely rare with only one case having been reported in the literature. We report three cases of CIC-rearranged sarcoma in the breast, all occurring in young females and exhibiting aggressive clinical behavior. Microscopically, all three cases showed diffuse or lobular growth of small round blue tumor cells with vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and clear cytoplasm. Focal reticular growth pattern and myxoid stroma were also observed. The diagnosis of CIC-rearranged sarcoma was confirmed through either fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or RNA sequencing; two of the three cases were confirmed to harbor CIC::DUX4 fusion. This case series, to the best of our knowledge, represents the largest report of CIC-rearranged sarcoma in the breast. It highlights the importance of recognizing this rare entity in the breast due to its aggressive clinical course, poor response to chemotherapy, and high tendency for metastasis. It also emphasizes the utility of molecular studies in distinguishing CIC-rearranged sarcoma from poorly differentiated carcinoma, as CIC-rearranged sarcoma has significantly worse prognosis than poorly differentiated carcinoma of breast.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of Breast and Axilla: Clinicopathological Profile of Five Tumors With Comparison of Risk Stratification Models

Introduction: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a fibroblastic tumor with malignant potential that is underpinned by a recurrent inv12(q13q13)-derived NAB2::STAT6 fusion. Breast and axilla are uncommon locations for this entity. Methods: Records of two academic institutions were electronically searched for breast and axillary SFTs. Clinical and pathologic data were reviewed. Literature review for breast or axillary SFTs was performed. Present study and previously reported tumors were stratified using five SFT risk models: original and modified Demicco metastatic risk, Salas local recurrence risk, Salas metastatic risk, and Thompson local recurrence risk. Results: Five patients with breast or axillary SFT were identified. Median age was 49 years, and median follow-up (available for four patients) was 82 months. Three patients showed no evidence of disease, and one developed recurrence. Literature review identified 58 patients with breast or axillary SFT. Median age was 54 years, and median follow-up (available for 35 patients) was 24 months. Thirty-one patients showed no evidence of disease, three developed recurrence, and one developed metastasis. Original and modified Demicco models and Thompson model showed the highest sensitivity; original and modified Demicco models and Salas metastatic risk model demonstrated the highest specificity. Kaplan-Meier models were used to assess recurrence-free probability (RFP). Original and modified Demicco models predicted RFP when stratified by "low risk" and "moderate/intermediate and high risk" tumor, though sample size was small. Conclusions: While many SFTs of breast and axilla remain indolent, a subset may develop recurrence and rarely metastasize. The modified Demicco risk model demonstrated optimal performance characteristics.

Breast Sarcomas-How Different Are They from Breast Carcinomas? Clinical, Pathological, Imaging and Treatment Insights

Breast sarcoma (BS) is a very rare and poorly studied condition. This has led to a lack of studies with a high level of evidence and to low efficacy of current clinical management protocols. Here we present our experience in treating this disease in the form of a retrospective case series study including discussion of clinical, imaging, and pathological features and treatment. We also compare the main clinical and biological features of six cases of BS (phyllodes tumors were excluded) with a cohort of 184 patients with unilateral breast carcinoma (BC) from a previous study performed at our institution. Patients with BS were diagnosed at a younger age, presented no evidence of lymph node invasion or distant metastases, had no multiple or bilateral lesions, and underwent a shorter length of hospital stay versus the breast carcinoma group. Where recommended, adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of an anthracycline-containing regimen, and adjuvant external radiotherapy was delivered in doses of 50 Gy. The comparison data obtained from our BS cases and the ones with BC revealed differences in diagnosis and treatment. A correct pathological diagnosis of breast sarcoma is essential for the right therapeutic approach. We still have more to learn about this entity, but our case series could add value to existing knowledge in a meta-analysis study.

A rare presentation of pregnancy associated primary angiosarcoma of the breasts

Primary angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare malignancy that is important for radiologists to recognize in young patients because its imaging appearance may mimic benign lesions resulting in advanced stages of disease and overall decreased patient survival. We present a unique case of a bilateral primary angiosarcoma in a pregnant patient in her twenties. She presented with a self-detected, rapidly enlarging, non-tender right breast mass while in her third trimester.

Imaging Features of Breast Periductal Stromal Tumor: A Case Report

Breast periductal stromal tumor (PDST) is a rare biphasic tumor, with both benign ductal epithelium and non-phyllodes sarcomatous stroma. Its imaging features were rarely reported due to the rarity. In this study, we describe the case of a 48-year-old female who presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. Presurgery imaging evaluations of full-field digital mammography (FFDM), digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and ultrasonography (US) were performed. The imaging features include the following: 1. multiple solid lobulated lesions comprising nearly the entire right breast; 2. hypoechoic heterogeneous masses with internal separations and abundant blood flow; 3. FFDM and DBT showed multiple irregular high-density masses with lobulated margin, partially integrated. The patient underwent extended mastectomy of the right breast. The surgical pathology confirmed a PDST. After excision of the mass, she was followed up in the outpatient clinic for 25 months without local recurrence or distant metastasis.

Primary stromal sarcoma of breast: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Primary breast sarcoma (PBS) was first described in 1887 as a rare heterogeneous neoplasm arising from the mesenchymal tissue of the mammary gland accounting for less than 5% of all body soft-tissue sarcomas and less than 0.1% of all malignant tumors of the breast.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 31-year old lady presented with left breast mass which she felt four years before during which the mass increased in size from 1 to 6 cm in the largest diameter, diagnosed clinically as a benign fibroadenoma without any further cytological or histopathological confirmation. Histopathological examination of the excised breast mass reveals undifferentiated, primary stromal sarcoma of the breast (PSSB), which was followed by mastectomy three weeks later with reconstructive breast surgery with a total duration of follow-up of 3 years thereafter. This is the first case of PSSB reported in Jordan.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

PSSB is the generic term given to malignant breast tumors thought to arise from the specialized mesenchymal stroma of the breast but lacking an epithelial component with a phylloides pattern. PSSB is difficult to diagnose preoperatively due to its rarity and inadequate imaging methods to establish an exact diagnosis. The histology of the patient mass may be the leading factor for the management of these tumors. Even in very young patients, a progressively growing breast mass should alert the clinician to investigate for malignancy and verify the results by biopsy. Surgery with adequate resection margins represents the only potentially curative modality with prognostic significance. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not very beneficial. The prognosis is dismal for patients with lymph node involvement and the size of the tumor has a lesser bearing on the outcome.

Residual Breast Sarcoma Left to Heal by Secondary Intention Following Wide Local Excision: An Unorthodox Approach to a Rare Malignancy

Breast sarcomas remain a rare malignancy and are noted to portend a particularly dismal prognosis. Due to their high rates of recurrence, a surgical excision with negative margins remains the preferred treatment modality. Nevertheless, their sparse prevalence often poses a diagnostic conundrum. In this report, we chronicle the case of a 46-year-old female with a recurrent breast sarcoma that was treated with wide local excision. Interestingly, no flap reconstruction, skin graft surgery, or primary wound closure was performed, and the resultant wound was left to heal by secondary intention. The patient continues to do well to date, with no postoperative complications.

Practical approach to diagnosis of bland-looking spindle cell lesions of the breast

The diagnosis of bland-looking spindle cell lesions of the breast is often challenging because there is a close morphological and immunohistochemical overlap among the different entities. The present review will discuss reactive spindle cell nodule/exuberant scar, nodular fasciitis, inflammatory pseudotumor, myofibroblastoma (classic type), lipomatous myofibroblastoma, palisaded myofibroblastoma, benign fibroblastic spindle cell tumor, spindle cell lipoma, fibroma, leiomyoma, solitary fibrous tumor, myxoma, schwannoma/neurofibroma, desmoid-type fibromatosis, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, low-grade fibromatosis-like spindle cell carcinoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor and low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma arising in the breast parenchyma. The pathologist should be aware of each single lesion to achieve a correct diagnosis to ensure patient a correct prognostic information and therapy. Accordingly representative illustrations and morphological/immunohistochemical diagnostic clues will be provided.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a tumor in the wide spectrum of the bland-looking spindle cell lesions of the breast

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a soft tissue tumor, usually occurring as a cutaneous lesion localized to the trunk or extremities; although it has a high rate of local recurrence, its metastatic potential is very low and complete surgical excision is frequently curative. Most of the cases reported as “DFSP of the breast” are tumors arising in the subcutaneous tissue infiltrating the underlying breast parenchyma. To the best of our knowledge, only 5 cases of DFSP of the breast have been reported to date. We herein present a rare case of DFSP of the breast parenchyma in a 41-year-old female with emphasis on the diagnostic clues and the differential diagnosis with other benign and malignant spindle cell lesions of the breast.

Report on a Case of Breast Sarcoma Metastatic to the Axillary Lymph Nodes

Breast sarcoma is a rare entity that accounts for less than 1% of all breast malignancies; it may spread by direct invasion and/or through the blood. Axillary lymph node involvement is extremely rare and usually associated with advanced-stage disease. In the surgical treatment of this neoplasm, complete axillary lymphadenectomy is important for the local clearance of the clinically involved lymph nodes. We report a case of a 65-year-old woman affected by follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the left breast. Six months after breast surgery she developed an axillary metastasis from the same disease.

Breast Leiomyosarcoma: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Management

Background

Leiomyosarcomas of breast are very rare tumors, with only 54 cases reported in the literature to date.

Methods

We report a case of leiomyosarcoma in a 52-year-old woman who presented with a painless left breast mass in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast. It measured about 6 cm in diameter and was located within the breast parenchyma with no skin involvement. Mammogram was suggestive of BI-RADS IV lesion, and core biopsy of the lesion was inconclusive.

Results

Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the excision biopsy of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma approaching the specimen margins. The patient underwent simple mastectomy, which did not reveal any residual tumor or additional lesions. Follow-up for a year after her mastectomy did not show any local or systemic recurrence.

Conclusions

We reviewed the literature and summarize our findings as recommendations for management of leiomyosarcoma of breast.

Primary Breast Atypical Lipomatous Tumor/ Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma and Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma

Atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDL) and its higher-grade counterpart, dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL), are extraordinarily rare tumors in the breast. The main differential diagnostic consideration of primary breast ALT/WDL is malignant phyllodes tumor with liposarcomatous differentiation, and the main differential diagnostic consideration of DDL in the breast is metaplastic breast carcinoma, particularly the spindle cell type, with heterologous sarcomatous differentiation. These differential diagnoses may be particularly challenging when evaluating limited core needle biopsy sampling. MDM2 and/or CDK4 protein overexpression and gene amplification are beneficial ancillary studies that can help establish the diagnosis of primary breast ALT/WDL and DDL, and effectively rule out the diagnoses of malignant phyllodes tumor and metaplastic breast carcinoma.

Periductal Stromal Sarcoma of the Breast with Coexistent Tuberculous Mastitis

Periductal stromal sarcoma is a rare low-grade biphasic malignancy arising from periductal breast stroma. This tumor is distinct from phyllodes as it lacks the characteristic leaf-like architecture. Tuberculous mastitis is an uncommon infection seen rarely in the breast parenchyma. We present a rare association between the two diseases, which to the best of our knowledge is the first case reported so far.

Myofibroblastic, fibroblastic and myoid lesions of the breast

Myofibroblastic, fibroblastic and/or myoid lesions are rare in the breast but comprise the majority of mammary mesenchymal spindle cell lesions. Whereas most have similar features to their counterparts at extramammary sites, pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia is considered a breast-specific myofibroblastic proliferation on the same spectrum as myofibroblastoma. Other lesions with myofibroblastic/fibroblastic differentiation include fibromatosis and nodular fasciitis, as well as more aggressive tumors such as the rarely reported myofibrosarcoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor and fibrosarcoma. Lesions with myoid differentiation include benign leiomyoma, myoid hamartoma and leiomyomatous myofibroblastoma, but primary leiomyosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma may also rarely arise in the breast. Furthermore, fibroepithelial lesions and metaplastic carcinomas can demonstrate myoid metaplasia. Diagnosis can be challenging, particularly on core biopsy, but benign lesions with or without recurrence potential must be distinguished from more aggressive tumors, especially metaplastic carcinoma and phyllodes tumors. This article will review lesions with myofibroblastic, fibroblastic and myoid differentiation in the breast, with special emphasis on differential diagnosis.

Primary Stromal Sarcoma of Breast: A Rare Entity

Primary soft tissue sarcomas of the breast constitute less than 5% of all soft tissue sarcomas and less than 1% of malignant breast cancers. The rarity of this tumor limits most studies to small retrospective case reviews and case reports. Primary breast sarcomas are locally aggressive tumors as evidenced by the high rate of local recurrence when excisional surgery is performed. A contemporary multidisciplinary approach to therapy including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy is advocated. Herein, we report a case of 45-yr-old female, who presented with a large ulcerated breast mass and was diagnosed as carcinoma breast on fine needle aspiration. Modified radical masectomy was performed and was diagonsed with primary breast stromal sarcoma on histopathology, which is a rare entity.

Periductal Stromal Tumor of the Breast: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We present a woman aged 50 years who underwent a Tru-cut biopsy for a BI-RADS 4 lesion on her right breast and received a histopathology diagnosis of a fibroadenoma. In her one year follow-up, the lesion had progressed and she underwent an excisional biopsy. Her final diagnosis was a periductal stromal tumor. Periductal stromal tumor is an extremely rare and different entity from phylloides tumor, which makes appropriate diagnosis difficult in Tru-cut biopsy and care should be taken. Lesion progression of should require a re-biopsy. Their tendency to recur warrants follow-up. We believe that radiologic, pathologic, and clinical correlation is key in decision-making and diagnosis of these tumors.

Liposarcoma of the breast arising in a malignant phyllodes tumor: A case report and review of the literature

Liposarcoma of the breast is a very rare malignant tumor. It can clinically manifest as a palpable breast mass and mimic primary breast cancer. We report an unusual case of a 51-year-old female who presented with an asymptomatic right breast mass, which was histologically diagnosed as well differentiated liposarcoma arisen within malignant phyllodes tumor. The patient underwent breast conserving surgery, received no adjuvant treatment and is disease-free after 2 years. Radiological and histopathological features are presented and described in detail. Data from the literature are presented and therapy recommendations discussed.

Carcinosarcoma of the Breast: Case Report

Carcinosarcoma of the breast represents less than 1% of primary breast mailgnancies. Both malign epithelial and malign mesenchymal elements exist together in the breast. A 59 year old postmenopausal women presents with a bloody nipple discharge and mass in breast. In left breast 2×1 cm mss detected and excisied. At pathological examination breast carcinosarcoma was detected. Then modified radical mastectomy was performed. Tumor measured 4×4×3.5 cm. Tumor cells were negative for estrogen, progesteron. C-erb-B2 was negative. There was no metastasis in axillary lymph node metastasis. Carcinosarcoma of breast is rare tumor. It mass be consider in diagnosis of patients with large breast mass.

Periductal stromal sarcoma of the breast: A case report and review of the literature

Periductal stromal sarcoma (PSS), spindle and epithelioid types, is a rare subtype of malignant fibroepithelial tumor. The morphological characteristics of this neoplasm are different from phyllodes tumor and stromal sarcoma. PSS exhibits biphasic histology with benign ductal elements and a sarcomatous stroma composed of spindle cells and lacking phyllodes tumor architecture. The therapeutic management of PSS is based on wide surgery with free margins, and adjuvant therapies are not required. To the best of our knowledge, the recurrence of PSS in ≤5 months has not been reported in the literature to date. This report describes a 43-year-old woman who presented to our hospital with a recurrence of nodules in the left breast. The patient had undergone lumpectomy at a different hospital 5 months previously, and a diagnosis of phyllodes tumor was pathologically confirmed. On presentation at our hospital, the patient underwent a second lumpectomy. Histological examination revealed PSS and the patient underwent a simple mastectomy of the left breast with no adjuvant treatment (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy). After 9 months of close follow-up examinations, no recurrence was observed. PSS is an extremely rare disease with low-grade sarcomatous behavior, which may evolve into a phyllodes tumor or an entity of breast cancer. Therefore, frequent follow-up examinations are required.

Primary fibrosarcoma of male breast: a rare entity

Primary fibrosarcoma of the breast is a very rare tumor. However, amongst the Primary Breast Sarcoma (PBS), it is the most common subtype. We present a case of 28-year-old male with lump in right breast of 7 year duration. The unilateral multinodular mass showed well circumscribed but unencapsulated tumor composed of interlacing fascicles of spindle shaped cells with minimal atypia. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for vimentin in the tumor cells. Differential diagnoses and review of literature is discussed.

Primary chondrosarcoma of the breast: a case presentation and review of the literature

Mammary sarcomas are uncommon tumors. When tumors like malignant cystosarcomaphyllodes and metaplastic carcinoma, where malignant cartilaginous areas may be present, are excluded, only nine cases have been reported to date.We report another case of primary chondrosarcoma of the breast here. A 24-year-old Mediterranean woman presented with a painful mass in the right breast and a physical examination revealed a palpable mass. An incisional biopsy was performed and primary chondrosarcoma was diagnosed based on histological examination. Our patient underwent a mastectomy. A preoperative clinical and cytological diagnosis of chondrosarcoma, even though possible in a few cases, is usually not attained due to its similarclinical behavior with other breast tumors.

Sarcomas of the breast

Sarcomas of the breast are a rare group of heterogeneous mesenchymal tumors accounting for less than 1% of all breast malignancies. Owing to the rarity of the disease, current knowledge is mostly based on numerous case reports and relatively small retrospective series; unlike epithelial breast cancer, there is no high level evidence to support a standard of care for primary and/or adjuvant therapy. To overcome this relative shortage of data, most therapeutic strategies for breast sarcoma are extrapolated from current treatment for soft tissue sarcoma in other locations, mainly of the extremities and thoracic wall. In general, the therapeutic approach to sarcoma of the breast should be based on a multidisciplinary strategy including surgery, radiation to improve local control and systemic chemotherapy in selected patients. This review discusses the results of the key larger retrospective studies including data on incidence, etiology, presentation, diagnosis, management and prognosis of this challenging rare disease entity.

Immediate reconstruction of the chest wall by latissimus dorsi and vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps after radical mastectomy for a huge pleomorphic liposarcoma

We describe a 53-year-old woman who had a huge pleomorphic liposarcoma of the left breast. She had a left Halstead mastectomy, which left a huge defect in the chest wall. We did an immediate reconstruction of the chest wall with combined latissimuss dorsi musculocutaneous (for the upper half of the defect) and vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps (for the lower half of the defect). She then had radiotherapy and chemotherapy during which time the flaps remained viable and provided satisfactory coverage for the irradiated area. Unfortunately four months later she was diagnosed with spinal cord and lung metastases and died seven months after the operation.

Do primary mammary osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma exist? A review of a large multi-institutional series of malignant matrix-producing breast tumours

The existing literature describing the clinicopathological features and behaviour of matrix-producing (MP) malignant breast tumours presents conflicting results. As a consequence it remains uncertain whether these tumours should be treated as sarcoma and managed by a specialist sarcoma team or treated using the same principles as conventional ductal carcinoma, a dilemma that prompted this study. Improved understanding of the clinicopathological characteristics of primary mammary MP-sarcomas, namely osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, is required.

METHODS

In this large international multicenter series of malignant MP-tumours of the breast (no = 101) with follow-up information has been assessed and their outcome is compared to other subtypes of metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) (no = 253) and to grade, lymph node and hormone receptor-matched ductal breast carcinomas (no = 258).

RESULTS

The majority of MP-cancers were associated with epithelial features, which supports the concept that the majority of, if not almost all, primary MP breast sarcomas are of epithelial in origin (MBC). 21% showed nodal metastasis and the distribution of distant metastases resembled conventional mammary carcinoma. The prognosis of MP-MBC is comparable to matched ductal breast carcinoma and slightly better than other subtypes of MBC. Advanced stage (T3&T4) and development of recurrences were predictors of shorter survival in MP-MBC while grade and vascular invasion were not.

CONCLUSION

Most malignant MP breast tumours are variants of MBC. MP-MBC with predominant mesenchymal components behaves similar to ductal carcinomas and although data on their response to systemic therapy is limited, there is no evidence that they should be managed differently from other forms of triple negative breast cancer.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of breast in an adolescent girl: a case report and review of the literature

Leiomyosarcoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm, primarily reported in older women. Only 44 cases have been reported in world literature and to the best of our knowledge, no case has been reported from India till date. We report a case of primary breast leiomyosarcoma in an adolescent girl who underwent a lumpectomy for rapidly increasing lump in the left breast. Here we report the histological findings and immunohistochemical profile of this entity, along with a review of existing literature.

Osteogenic sarcoma of the breast arising in a cystosarcoma phyllodes: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Primary tumors of the breast containing bone and cartilage are extremely rare, and an osteogenic sarcoma arising from a cystosarcoma phyllodes is exceptional.

Case presentation

A 40-year-old Indian woman presented with a breast mass which was diagnosed as osteosarcoma of the breast on biopsy. Our patient was treated with a simple mastectomy after excluding the presence of skeletal primary and extra-mammary metastases. Final pathology showed a cystosarcoma phyllodes with signs of osteogenic sarcoma.

Conclusion

Although osteogenic sarcomas of the breast are rare, they need to be distinguished from carcinosarcomas and metaplastic carcinomas as the management of the two differ.

Stromal sarcoma of the breast with lung metastases showing a clinical complete response to doxorubicin plus ifosfamide treatment: report of a case

A 29-year-old woman presented with a painful right breast tumor, measuring 15 cm in diameter, which had progressed rapidly over 3 months. Core needle biopsy of the tumor revealed a malignant mesenchymal tumor. A mastectomy was performed, and pathological examination of the tumor showed stromal sarcoma. Solitary pleural dissemination in the right lung was suspected, based on the computed tomography image taken before the operation. Two months after surgery, bilateral multiple lung nodules were demonstrated. Systemic chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus ifosfamide was performed, and 3 months later the lung metastases had disappeared. Moreover, there is still no sign of recurrence at 5 months after the initiation of the chemotherapy. Breast stromal sarcoma is very rare, accounting for less than 1% of mammary neoplasms, and the treatment strategy is not well established, especially regarding chemotherapy. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus ifosfamide for lung metastases from breast stromal sarcoma.

Primary breast angiosarcoma: avoiding a common trap

Background. Primary breast angiosarcoma is a rare entity. Case. Initial diagnosis was a benign hemangioma at core biopsy. Wide local excision was performed, with positive margins. Pathology after surgery reported a moderately differentiated angiosarcoma. Tumor was finally treated using mastectomy and radiations. She developed a second angiosarcoma in contralateral breast, with an initial diagnosis on core biopsy of an atypical vascular lesion and was again treated using mastectomy and radiations. She developed bones and lung metastases. Conclusion. Primary breast angiosarcoma is a rare entity often difficult to diagnose on core biopsy, and a benign differential diagnosis is frequent. A highly vascular breast mass should always be considered malignant until proven otherwise. Surgical treatment seems to be the best course of action. There is a lack of data proving efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Primary breast sarcoma: prevalence, clinical signs, and radiological features

BACKGROUND

Primary breast sarcoma is very rare. Most reports regarding sarcoma of the breast are clinical observations or pathological series and provide either no or inconstant radiological information. Radiological publications consist predominantly of isolated case reports or small series.

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence, clinical signs, and radiological features of primary breast sarcoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a retrospective review of 21 patients with breast sarcoma. All patients were female and their median age was 66 years (range 27-86). In all patients the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically.

RESULTS

The prevalence of breast sarcoma was 0.1% of all identified cases with breast malignancies. Clinically, all patients presented with solitary painless breast lumps. There was no uni- or bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. On mammography (n = 19), two mammographic patterns could be identified: breast masses (68%), and architectural distortion (32%). On ultrasound (n = 8), most lesions were homogeneously hypoechoic, lobular or oval in shape with microlobulated or indistinct margins. On magnetic resonance imaging (n = 3), marked inhomogeneous contrast enhancement was seen in all investigated cases.

CONCLUSION

The imaging findings of primary breast sarcoma are not pathognomonic. However, they should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions.

Periductal stromal sarcoma in a child: a case report

Introduction

Periductal stromal sarcoma is an extremely rare malignant fibroepithelial tumor of the breast which is characterized by its biphasic histology with benign ductal elements and a sarcomatous stroma made of spindle cells and lacking phyllodes architecture. Its therapeutic management is based on wide surgery with free margins. Adjuvant therapies are not needed. Periductal stromal sarcoma may evolve into a phyllodes tumor with time, as well as a specific soft-tissue sarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this tumor has never been described in a child.

Case presentation

A 14-year-old Arabic boy was presented to our hospital one year ago with a nodule of the right breast that was gradually increasing in size without signs of inflammation. The histological examination after lumpectomy revealed a periductal stromal sarcoma with free surgical margins. No adjuvant treatment was given. At 50 months of close follow-up, no recurrence was observed.

Conclusion

Periductal stromal sarcoma in a child is a very rare disease which has the same indolent behavior as it does in adults. Therefore, close follow-up is required.

Metaplastic carcinoma with predominant chondrosarcoma of the right breast

A 45-year-old female presented with complaint of a lump in the right breast for the last 6 months. Excisional biopsy had been performed outside our institution, which was suggestive of a pure mammary chondrosarcoma. Modified radical mastectomy of the right breast was performed and histopathology was suggestive of a pure mammary chondrosarcoma of the right breast. One axillary lymph node was positive for metastasis, the rest of the lymph nodes were free of metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was suggestive of a metaplastic carcinoma with a predominant chondrosarcoma in the right breast. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to the patient with a further plan of chemotherapy.

Metastatic primary angiosarcoma of the breast in a pediatric patient with a complete response to systemic chemotherapy and definitive radiation therapy: case report and review of the literature

We present a case of a rare malignancy, primary breast angiosarcoma, in a 15-year-old girl. She presented with a locally advanced tumor and suspected metastatic disease to the mediastinum and bones on PET imaging. The patient was treated with systemic chemotherapy and definitive radiation therapy to her left breast and achieved a complete response. She has no evidence of disease recurrence 44 months from her initial diagnosis.

Breast sarcoma--a review of diagnosis and management

Sarcoma of the breast is a rare condition. The biological differences from other primary breast tumours necessitate a corresponding difference in approach to diagnostic and management strategies. The rarity of the condition has made clinicopathological study difficult, with most series limited to less than 50 patients. We review the current literature on the diagnosis and management of breast sarcoma, and highlight areas of likely future development.

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast with foci of morphologic malignancy: a case of PASH with malignant transformation?

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is a benign proliferation of the hormonally responsive, specialized mammary stroma characterized by slit-like pseudovascular spaces lined by bland spindle cells. It is usually an incidental microscopic finding but in some cases it may present as a slowly growing mass. A malignant counterpart for this lesion has not been reported. We describe a case of PASH with foci of malignant histologic features presenting as a slowly growing mass in a 30-year-old woman. The previously reported variants of PASH and the other mammary stromal lesions related to PASH are also discussed. This is perhaps the first case of PASH with foci of malignant histologic features reported in the literature and represents a rare sarcoma derived from specialized hormonally responsive mammary stroma.

Primary Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Breast

BACKGROUND: Primary pure breast sarcoma is a rare disease and constitutes 0.2-1.0% of all mammary malignancies. The establishment of a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma is difficult in adults. Immunohistochemical analysis usually proves to be helpful in indistinguishable cases. The simplistic step is to classify sarcomas on a simple descriptive basis as spindle cell sarcomas, myxoid sarcomas, pleomorphic sarcomas, and small round cell sarcomas. CASE REPORT: Here, we present a rare case of primary spindle cell sarcoma of the breast. A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with a 2-month history of a left breast lump. Histopathological examination showed a tumor of 2.5 cm in diameter and of nuclear and histological grade 2. In the immunohistochemical examination, vimentin positivity, high nuclear overexpression of P53, high Ki-67 and S-100, desmin, leukocyte common antigen, keratin, and smooth muscle antigen, CD34, HMB45 and EMA negativity were detected. CONCLUSION: Most invasive breast neoplasms are epithelial tumors, and mesenchymal breast tumors are rarely seen. In primary breast sarcoma, adequate surgical tumor excision, tumor grade, and tumor diameter seem to be the most important prognostic factors.

Recurrence of secondary angiosarcoma in a patient with post-radiated breast for breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare finding. Two different subtypes of angiosarcomas have been described: (a) the Stewart-Treves syndrome and (b) the cutaneous post-radiation angiosarcoma. We report a case where both types of angiosarcoma occurred.

CASE REPORT

At first, an angiosarcoma affecting parenchyma of the breast was observed after radiotherapy following breast conserving therapy and a history of lymphoedema of the radiated area. Additionally, a subsequent local recurrence of the angiosarcoma of the skin after mastectomy and complete resection of the primary angiosarcoma was diagnosed.

DISCUSSION

This case is distinguished by a short latency period after primary therapy (less than 4 years) and a rapid recurrence after complete resection (14 weeks). Patients should be pointed to this possible complication of radiotherapy and transferred to seek medical advice immediately in case of skin lesion in the irradiated area: even many years after radiotherapy. Additionally, every oncologist should be aware of this rare complication as quick diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment is indispensable due to the aggressive entity of angiosarcoma.