Neurofibromatosis of the nipple-areolar area: a case series

Diagnostic Approach to Mesenchymal and Spindle Cell Tumors of the Breast

Mesenchymal and spindle cell tumors of the breast represent a broad and heterogeneous group of lesions that may be sampled on core needle biopsy or surgical excision. Mesenchymal lesions unique to the breast are those that derive from the specialized breast myofibroblast, such as mammary myofibroblastoma and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia. However, any mesenchymal lesion arising in extramammary soft tissue may also arise in the breast, including fibroblastic, peripheral nerve sheath, adipocytic, and vascular lesions. The spindle cell lesions pose the greatest diagnostic challenge, due to the significant radiographic, morphologic, and immunophenotypic overlap within the category of mesenchymal lesions and more broadly with other nonmesenchymal breast lesions. The distinction is particularly challenging on the limited material of breast core needle biopsies, and caution should be taken before definitively classifying a breast spindle cell lesion on core needle biopsy to avoid unnecessary treatment if misdiagnosed. Consideration of a wide differential diagnosis, adequate sampling of a resection specimen, use of a targeted immunopanel, and selective use of molecular assays are essential steps for accurate classification of mesenchymal lesions in the breast. This review covers the clinical, histologic, and immunophenotypic features of mesenchymal tumors of the breast, with a special emphasis on the differential diagnoses unique to the breast and challenges encountered on breast core needle biopsy.

Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Lesions and Other Lesions

Mesenchymal breast tumors are a rare and diverse group of tumors that present some of the most challenging cases for multidisciplinary breast cancer teams. As a result of overlapping morphologies and a lack of large-scale studies on these tumors, practices are often heterogeneous and slow to evolve. Herein, we present a non-systematic review that focuses on progress, or lack thereof, in the field of mesenchymal breast tumors. We focus on tumors originating from fibroblastic/myofibroblastic cells and tumors originating from less common cellular origins (smooth muscle, neural tissue, adipose tissue, vascular tissue, etc.).

Imaging appearance of isolated diffuse neurofibroma of nipple areolar area: a case report

Sporadic neurofibromas of the nipple-areolar complexes are exceptional even in patients with neurofibromatosis. Diffuse neurofibroma is an uncommon subtype of neurofibroma that has received little attention in the imaging literature. As are most superficial lesions, it is often evaluated clinically and if biopsy is needed, it is usually performed without imaging. However the imaging data is quite characteristic with the aim of evaluating the extension in depth and detecting an underlying cancer. We report a case of women without a history of neurofibromatosis presenting a skin thickening disfiguring her left breast, related to diffuse neurofibroma of the nipple-areolar complexes confirmed histologically. We study echo-mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in order to highlight its radiographics features.

Management of Neurofibromatosis of the Nipple-Areolar Complex

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant disease having an incidence of 1 in 3000 individuals. It primarily involves the peripheral nervous system and usually presents with many neurofibromas. On rare occasions, NF1 can affect the breast and manifests as nipple-areolar complex extranipple (pseudopolythelia) like neurofibromas which can be disfiguring and sometimes cause pain and therefore need to be addressed surgically. We present a case of a 31-year-old female, who had multiple pedunculated neurofibromas around the nipple on both breasts for 3 years. These lesions were associated with mild pain and were increasing in size. Surgical excision was done while preserving the nipples bilaterally. NF1 primarily involves the peripheral nervous system and usually presents with a large number of neurofibromas. Several case series of patients with NF1 have been reported, but there are only a few published reports on neurofibromas of the nipple-areolar complexes. These lesions can be painful and cause cosmetic deformity. In our case, these lesions were approached by circumferentially excising the redundant nipple-areolar skin containing the neurofibromas, while isolating the nipple on a central ductal and vascular pedicle. In conclusion, the redundant nipple-areolar skin containing the neurofibromas can simply be approached by circumferential excision while preserving the nipple. This technique is simple, easy to perform, while it allows duct preservation and preserves cosmesis.

[Pathology of the nipple-areola complex : Part II. Tumors, tumor-like lesions, and supernumerary breast lesions]

The nipple-areola complex is the origin of various morphologically distinct tumors and tumor-like lesions, which can be delineated from the special structures of the nipple, in particular the intramammary ducts, skin-appendages, and the intramammary stroma. Benign tumors are most frequent and this includes epithelial tumors such as mammary adenoma and syringomatous tumor of the nipple. Less commonly observed are benign mesenchymal tumors such as leiomyoma of the nipple, or tumor-like lesions like pseudo-lymphoma. With excess formations of the nipple, the different forms of polythelia and polymastia have to be considered.

Bilateral Neurofibromas of the Nipple-Areolar Complex: A Case Report and Approach to Diagnosis

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant condition which can manifest as multiple neurofibromas within subcutaneous tissue. Neurofibromas of the breast are rare and most often encountered on the nipple-areolar complexes. A 33-year-old woman presented with large, bilateral, fleshy, skin tags of the nipple-areolar complexes. She underwent bilateral diagnostic excision of the lesions and macroscopically, both nipple specimens displaying polypoid lesions. Histological examination showed bilateral neurofibromas comprising skin with underlying dermal proliferation of bland spindle shaped cells with wavy nuclei. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the spindle cell proliferation to be neural in origin; positive for S100 and neurofilament and negative for cytokeratins. This was associated with florid smooth muscle proliferation. This case demonstrates a rare presentation of nipple-areolar neurofibroma occurring within the skin and nipple parenchyma. Our report considers the differential diagnoses of spindle cell proliferation within the dermis and subcutis of the breast and also other deeper breast spindle cell lesions that may involve the nipple. It aims to provide an approach to diagnosing these lesions examining the literature surrounding breast neurofibromas.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors of the breast

Benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors can involve the breast, presenting as masses in the dermis, deep breast parenchyma or axillary soft tissue. Although the histologic features are frequently characteristic, diagnosis can be challenging on core needle biopsy, and the differential diagnosis includes a variety of other benign and malignant spindle cell lesions of the breast. Here, we review the key clinical and pathological features of breast schwannoma, neurofibroma, granular cell tumor, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

[Management of plexiform neurofibroma isolated in childhood: four patients]

Plexiform neurofibroma is a rare and benign tumor often associated with type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) or Von Recklinghausen's disease. Present in one third of cases of NF1, there are isolated forms where the diagnosis should remain a diagnosis of exclusion. We report four cases of isolated plexiform neurofibromas found in children from topographies and we discuss the pretherapeutic assessment, the surgical management and the long-term follow-up.