Bilateral amyloid tumours of the breast

Primary breast amyloidosis presenting solely as nonpalpable microcalcifications: a case report with review of the literature

Primary breast amyloidosis is a rare disease and usually occurs as unilateral or bilateral palpable masses. Primary breast amyloidosis presenting solely as microcalcifications is extremely rare. The authors report a case of a 73-year-old woman with persistent suspicious microcalcifications without palpable mass. The diagnosis was established by the presence of an amorphous and eosinophilic material that was positive for Congo red and dichroic under polarized light. Paraffin immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of kappa light chains (AL-type amyloidosis). The amyloid deposits were associated with microcalcifications. A complete work up was performed to exclude other localisations or associated pathologies and was negative. The primary breast amyloidosis is discussed and a review of the literature is presented.

Primary amyloid tumour of the breast: a case report

A case of primary amyloid tumour of the breast is reported with a brief review of the literature. The tumour was mammographically suspicious of carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration cytology yielded clumps of amorphous material surrounded by giant cells and lymphocytes. Subsequent histology showed nodular amyloid associated with osseous metaplasia and giant cell reaction. There are 13 cases of amyloid tumour of the breast reported in the literature and in four of these fine needle aspiration had been undertaken.

Primary localized amyloid tumor of the breast with osseous metaplasia

A case of primary localized amyloid tumor of the breast is described. It is an extremely rare condition and has not been seen in literature in Japan. A 76-year-old woman visited a hospital because of a painless, hard mass of the right breast. A relatively well demarcated, calcified mass was excised under clinical diagnosis of fibroadenoma. Histologically, massive eosinophilic amorphous material was deposited in breast stroma. It was stained red-orange by Congo red and displayed apple-green birefringence under polarized light. The staining persisted after incubation with KMnO4 and immunolabeling by immunoglobulin chi-light chain antiserum, consistent with the amyloid of AL (Achi) type. Osseous metaplasia with bone marrow cavity, foreign body type giant cells in response to amyloid, and scattered plasma cell infiltration were also recognized. Osseous metaplasia in the breast amyloid tumor has been reported in only one case before. To date, the patient has not developed any clinical or laboratory evidence of systemic amyloidosis or multiple myeloma.