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Secretory carcinoma of the breast: A case report

Publication at Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen |
2019

Abstract

WHO has defined the secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) as "a rare, low-grade, translocation-associated invasive carcinoma with a solid, microcystic and tubular architecture composed of cells that produce intracellular and extracellular secretory material "and classed it between "exceptionally rare types and variants "of breast tumors [1]. SBCs account for < 0.15% of all breast cancers [2].

Although it was originally described as a juvenile breast carcinoma, occurring in young children, most cases have been reported in adults of both sexes with the median age of presentation in 25 years [3]. SBC is associated with a characteristic balanced translocation, t(12;15), that creates a ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion [4-6].

Typically, secretory breast carcinomas are negative for hormone receptors and do not express human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) [7]. The breast imaging characteristics of SBC are nonspecific and can mimic benign breast tumor.

A definitive diagnosis of SBC is established from histology, immunohistochemistry and cytogenetic evaluation. We present in our study a patient with SBC in line with the SCARE criteria [8].