Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Clinical and Pathological Features of Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma: A Report of Four Case Studies

Abstract

Ben Hammouda S, Nechi S, Triki A, Douggaz A, Chaabene A and Chelbi E

Aims: The purpose of our study was to research the clinical and pathological aspects of metaplastic breast cancer (MBC).

Material and methods: This is a retrospective study of four cases of MBC conducted at the department of pathology of Mohamed Taher Maamouri Hospital in Nabeul, between January 2016 and February 2018. Characteristics of clinical and pathological features were collected from the patient files and histopathological reports.

Results: In our study, the mean age of patients was 53 years with extremities ranging from 19 to 89 years old. The most frequent reason for consultation was a nodule with a mean size of 3.87 cm (3 - 4.5 cm) and a localization in the left breast in 75% of cases (n=3). These tumors were classified ACR 5 in 75% of cases. The diagnosis was made in 50% of cases on lumpectomy and 50% of cases on micro biopsies.

Conclusion: A metastatic lymph node location was found in only one case (25%). All patients (n=4) had squamous type of metaplastic cell differentiation and only one case was associated with a predominant NST carcinoma. In 100% of cases, it was an SBR grade III carcinoma. At immunohistochemistry, 50% of cases (n=2) had a triple-negative profile (RO, RP and Her2 negative).