Epithelial Inclusion in Axillary Lymph Node Associated with a Breast Carcinoma: Report of a Case with a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Since epithelial inclusions in axillary lymph nodes are rare, some diagnostic problems concerning their nature have arisen. We report a case of a cystic squamous epithelial inclusion in an axillary lymph node of a patient affected by a high grade breast carcinoma with focal squamous differentiation. Although the lesion was histologically benign, the possibility that it represents a well-differentiated squamous metastasis cannot be completely ruled out. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an epithelial lymph node inclusion associated with a breast carcinoma showing morphological evidence of squamous differentiation. Here, we discuss the diagnostic problems and give a review of the literature.