Primary epidermoid carcinoma of the breast presenting as a breast abscess and sepsis

Breast Conservation Therapy for Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast in an Elderly Woman: A Case Report

This case report details a rare instance of primary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) of the breast in an octogenarian, emphasizing the unique diagnostic and treatment challenges posed by this malignancy in an elderly patient and adding to the scientific literature on PSCC managed with breast conservation therapy (BCT). An 80-year-old woman with medical comorbidities presented with a focal asymmetry in the right breast's retroareolar plane, detected during routine screening mammography. Diagnostic evaluations raised high suspicion for malignancy, confirmed as PSCC by ultrasound-guided biopsy. Histopathological analysis showed atypical keratinizing squamous epithelial nests and cysts. The patient underwent lumpectomy and re-excision of close surgical margins with a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which showed well-differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma with no residual carcinoma or nodal involvement. She was treated with adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy, experiencing minimal side effects. This case highlights the importance of considering individualized, nuanced approaches to adjuvant therapies in the treatment of PSCC in older patients. It demonstrates that BCT, coupled with carefully selected adjuvant therapy, can be a successful treatment strategy for PSCC in the elderly, contributing valuable insights into the management of this rare condition.

Management and prognosis of pure primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to investigate the management and prognosis of Pure primary squamous cell carcinoma (PPSCC) of the breast.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a multicentre retrospective cohort from three French tertiary referral hospitals (Rennes, Orléans and Tours) including all women treated for a PPSCC of the breast defined by squamous cells that could contain a minority of sarcomatoid component. We excluded carcinomas with a ductual component. Clinicopathologic, radiological and therapeutic patterns were described. Demographic, histological and therapeutic characteristics were compared to a population of women with triple negative invasive breast carcinomas.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were included, with a mean age of 71.6 years. All lesions were unifocal, with a cystic complex ultrasound mass in 50% of cases. Mean tumor size was 43mm, with axillary lymph node metastasis in 25% of patients. The comparison with a population of women with triple negative breast carcinomas revealed that women with PPSCC were older (71 versus 57 years, p=0.003), tumor size was larger (43mm versus 25mm, p=0.032) and local recurrence occurred earlier (three months versus 38 months, p=0.014).

CONCLUSION

PPSCC is a rare entity with a worse prognosis in comparison with triple negative invasive carcinoma.

Lactating breast abscess: a rare presentation of adenosquamous breast carcinoma

We report the case of a 33-year-old lactating woman who presented with a 10-cm breast abscess. Biopsy of the abscess wall revealed a poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma. The patient had no family history of breast cancer or other risk factors for breast cancer. The disease was considered to be a large noninflammatory invasive breast cancer, for which the patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery using axillary dissection (the patient did not consent to a mastectomy), and postoperative radiotherapy. Final histologic examination revealed a 4-cm, triple negative, high-grade adenosquamous carcinoma. At follow-up four years after surgery, the patient was doing well with no signs of recurrence. Adenosquamous carcinoma is an extremely rare disease that mainly presents in low-grade forms. High-grade forms are aggressive and frequently present with axillary involvement. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of adenosquamous carcinoma presenting as a breast abscess in the literature. The case we report highlights that, although rare, cancer should be considered in lactating breast abscesses.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast: a case report and review of literature

Primary squamous cell carcinoma is a well known malignancy of the skin and other organs composed of squamous cells, which are normally not found inside the breast. Therefore, a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is an exceedingly uncommon phenomen and the management of this type of disease is still unclear. We report the case of a 43-year-old Moroccan woman, without significant medical history, presented an infected mass of 9 cm in the left breast associated with ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. The mass's surgical biopsy revealed a triple negative primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast. She underwent a neoadjuvant chemotherapy using 5 Fluoro-Uracil and platinum. After three courses, she presented a contralateral breast progression and apparition of metastasis at D10. She received one course of a palliative chemotherapy based on weekly paclitaxel stopped because of her peformans status deterioration. She died 7 months after her admission.