Concurrent Lactating Adenoma and Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma: A Case Report

MRI Evaluation of the Lactating Breast

Purpose of Review

To review the MRI appearance of physiologic lactational changes, common benign pathologies, and malignancies in the lactating breast.

Recent Findings

The prevalence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer has increased as more women delay childbirth and lactation. There is a transient increase in breast cancer risk after delivery when women may be lactating. MRI is more sensitive than mammography and ultrasound for the evaluation of the extent of disease in lactating women.

Summary

Understanding the key MRI findings of benign and malignant pathologies in the lactating breast is critical for accurate diagnosis and prompt evaluation of pregnancy-associated breast cancer.

Bilateral complex lactating adenosis: Clinical presentation and management in Sudan

Lactating adenosis is a benign breast neoplasm usually seen during pregnancy and lactation. We present a rare case of bilateral complex benign lactating adenosis in 19-year-old female patient presented with lactating adenosis that mimics cancer growth after giving birth. Histopathology confirmed diagnosis. Simple mastectomy was the treatment of choice.

Giant lactating adenoma

Lactating adenoma is a rare benign breast lesion that most often presents as a small (up to 3 cm), solid, well-circumscribed, solitary, painless, mobile, lobulated mass. The highest incidence occurs in primiparous women (20 to 40 years old) during the third trimester of pregnancy. However, in the rare case presented herein, in addition to its giant size (more than 10 centimeters on palpation), this lactating adenoma is distinctive due to the presence of multiple nodules, poorly defined ultrasonographic margins, worrisome radiologic features, growth since early pregnancy, presence of infarction and association with chronic mastitis. From the clinical-radiologic perspective, the differential diagnoses included abscess associated with puerperal mastitis, phyllodes tumor, and galactocele. Biopsy was performed, and pathologic examination revealed the classic characteristics of lactating adenoma with multiple infarcted areas, leading to an unexpected confirmed case of giant lactating adenoma.

Aggressive lactating adenoma mimicking breast carcinoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Lactating adenoma is a rare breast tumor which is commonly found in late pregnancy or lactation period. Despite its benign nature, lactating adenoma might develop aggressively and can be misdiagnosed as breast cancer.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 25-year-old female presenting with two large, ulcerative and bleeding breast masses. An open biopsy demonstrating lactating adenoma was considered discordant and surgery was performed to confirm the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Careful clinical and histological evaluations are necessary to diagnose and manage lactating adenoma.

Pitfalls in Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in a Lactating Breast

Breast undergoes hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy and postpartum period and may be associated with benign and malignant lesions. These lesions can arise either de novo or can be an exacerbated change occurring in a preexisting breast lesion. The benign lesion in the lactating breast can show some degree of atypia due to the high levels of progesterone and prolactin which can mimic malignant features microscopically and can be overdiagnosed with breast cancer. On the other hand, breast cancer in the lactating breast can be underdiagnosed when the atypical cytological features are considered as hormonal changes. A few case reports are published in the literature regarding lactating adenoma undergoing malignant transformation. We present a case in 23 years postpartum lactating female with mass in bilateral breasts. Initially, the lesions were diagnosed with hormonal changes on cytology. On follow-up by fine-needle aspiration cytology and biopsy, it was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma in both breasts. As far as our knowledge goes, this is the first-case report in the English literature of ductal carcinoma in the bilateral lactating breast arising de novo.

Spuriously aggressive features of a lactating adenoma prompting repeated biopsies

We present an atypical presentation of a common pregnancy-related breast mass, a lactating adenoma with imaging and pathologic correlation. The patient presented with a rapidly enlarging left breast mass associated with skin changes and severe pain in the perinatal period. Core biopsies were considered discordant, and the patient went on to surgical excision for the definitive diagnosis of an infarcted lactating adenoma. The symptoms of infarction may obscure the diagnosis of common entities and result in additional evaluation.